When my kids were little, I always enjoyed taking them to the library, and realized early on that the Children’s section had a wealth of information and ideas for adults, too—especially those who were considering starting a new hobby or activity, like gardening, painting, or making gross-looking snacks for Halloween. Children’s books were quicker to read and easier to understand than the “How-to” books in the Adults section, and provided a basic overview and instructions for getting started. This, of course, was long before YouTube videos were invented.

I recently came across another children’s book that I think would be of more benefit for adults. I was at a meeting of the Education Committee at Georgia Writers Museum, and we were brainstorming ideas for activities and programs for kids at various grade levels. The head of the committee, who’s a retired school psychologist, brought in a book by David White, titled Philosophy for Kids: 40 Fun Questions That Help You Wonder About Everything!

We debated starting a discussion group for kids, using the questions in the book as prompts to get the conversations going. Personally, I thought a program like this would be more beneficial for adults. Not because the philosophical questions would be too complex for kids, but because it seems that adults these days—more so than children—need some practice in using knowledge, values, and critical thinking skills to express views and opinions on subjects that don’t demand that someone is right and the other person is wrong. Civil, thoughtful, and intelligent conversations may be on the endangered species list right now, but with proper care and feeding, they can certainly make a comeback.

The book included questions such as, “Should you always listen to the opinion of others?” and “Are impossible things ever possible?” My responses—the short versions—to these questions would be that yes, we should listen to the opinion of others, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept it; and that impossible things are only impossible until someone accomplishes them, as Roger Bannister did when he ran a mile in under four minutes, a feat everyone knew was impossible—until he did it.

Those are just my thoughts, though. I’m sure others have different opinions, and that’s the whole point. It would be interesting and enlightening to discuss such questions with a group of people who have differing beliefs and backgrounds, but are eager to listen and learn from others.

Perhaps the kids will let us borrow their book.

March 29, 2025
©Betty Liedtke, 2025

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