Philosophy for children – purpose of using stories in education

Skupovi, predavanja, tribineThe Philosophy for children is a practical philosophical discipline aimed at preschool, primaryschool and high school pupils. The purpose of Philosophy for children is not an early learningof the philosophical themes, but developing critical and creative thinking about themselves andthe world around them. According to an UNESCO’s research which included 126 nations ofthe world, there are more and more schools worldwide that accept philosophy subjects in theirlearning programs. This school year the Philosophy for children is introduced, as an experimentalprogram titled Little philosophy, in a private primary school "Nova" in Zadar.Lessons are held once week for third, fourth and fifth classes. Carefully selected stories have veryimportant place in educational system of the Little philosophy. Stories are used like groundworkfor cultivating a theme. Through the stories the picked up topics and issues are introduced tothe pupils. The questions and answers provoked by the story enable the children to discoverthe essence of the problem in the heart of the story and latter translate it to the similar issues ofeveryday life in their living environment.