Philosophy for Children, or P4C, is an approach to learning and teaching which enhances children’s thinking and communication skills, boosts their self-esteem, and improves their academic attainment. P4C aims to help children become more thoughtful, more reflective, considerate and reasonable individuals.
We recognise the importance of thinking as a basis for children’s learning. Philosophy for Children (P4C) is the ideal tool to stimulate thinking skills.
P4C improves children’s critical, creative and rigorous thinking. It helps to develop higher order thinking skills, improve communication skills and helps children learn to co-operate with others. Children learn to reflect before speaking so that they are accurate in what they really want to say..
In Mathematics, for example, children are required to discuss their work and explain why an answer is correct. And as they progress they need to begin to explain their thinking and to give examples.
In Science, children are required to respond to suggestions and put forward their own ideas about how to find the answer to a question.
In English, pupils talk and listen confidently in different contexts, exploring and communicating ideas. In discussion they show understanding of the main points. Through relevant comments and questions they show that they have listened carefully. They are able to vary their use of vocabulary and level of detail.
The skills that children acquire in P4C, they carry through to all areas of the curriculum. The ability to concentrate, to think beyond the obvious, to listen and evaluate and to form their own opinions have extremely beneficial consequences.
