Philosophy for Children in Colegio Europeo de Madrid
“Talking about a philosophically healthy person is talking about someone who recognizes and takes the opportunity to build on someone’s else opinion” – Elena Morilla, Teacher of Philosophy for Children at CEM
Critical Thinking
Philosophy for Children encourages students to practice individual thinking, that means, to think for themselves. It also allows them to question things, give them a sense, and act. “Understand to act”.
Creative Thinking
This thinking allows our students to solve problems taking into account all the variables that are part of the exercise.
Caring Thinking
It helps children take into account the impact of their actions on others. Develop skills such as compassion, empathy, and strength in the face of adversity. This thinking prioritizes the variable “we” over the “I”.
Character Development
In Philosophy for Children, dialogue with others is implicit, allowing the student to realize the diversity and plurality of ideas that exist and that anyone can teach us something new. This develops the character of the child, opens his mind and encourages his curiosity, his desire to know and his willingness to correct himself and engage for a fairer and better world.
Self-knowledge
Philosophy helps us to know our prejudics, stereotypes and preconceived ideas. Knowing yourself helps us understand and know others. Also to manage our emotions and, ultimately, to be happier.
Under the premise that students not only learn more and better by dialogue, but using it, we are training people fully prepared to think critically, empathize and understand any situation defending ideas and emotions but without leaving aside how important it is to listen to others, at the European College of Madrid the subject of Philosophy for Children is taught in a transversal way in all subjects from Infants to 2nd Baccalaureate.
In Infants and Primary we use stories and paintings, abstract and realistic, to initiate philosophical dialogue. In secondary and Baccalaureate, the news and the different subjects offer great opportunities for reflection and dialogue. In our quest for children to be curious and to remain curious throughout their lives, CEM does not teach theory, theory is used to learn to think, to create and to express, and, Philosophy for Children is the basis of this way of transmitting knowledge.
