A new fad is sweeping France: tea-parties at which children between the ages of about 7 and 13 sit down to discuss philosophy and the big questions of life. Adam Sage explains:
Les goûters philos — philosophical teas — have become a craze among families who are convinced that children as young as 6 should start grappling with issues that taxed the likes of Socrates and Thomas Aquinas.
Although some may dismiss it as further proof of their pretentiousness, the French see it as an attempt to give children a handle on an increasingly complex world.
Proponents of les goûters philos argue that the subject needs to be broached at an early age when children start asking existential questions.
The parties are held in cafés, public libraries and at home and involve food, drink … and debate.
Some are led by intellectuals who are steeped in the study of philosophy and others by parents who are struggling to tell Nietzsche and Sartre apart. Many are organised by the children themselves.
This fits with my experience of working with families and in schools and parishes over the years. I’ve always found that the best ages for deep reflection are about 3 and 10.
At 3, the most basic questions about reality, life and death come up. Then you attempt an answer, and the question comes back at you in a different form. It’s the ‘But why…?’ stage of life.
After Van Morrison's "The Philosopher's Stone"
The most thoughtful and open discussions I’ve had about philosophy and religion have been with children in Year 5 in the British system – ages 9 to 10. That’s why it’s such a good age for religious catechesis. And why I wonder if it wouldn’t be better to move all the preparation for First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation to Year 5. (Discuss…)
If you want to start a philosophical tea party for children, here are the tips that came with the article:
• Not more than ten people
• Bring food and drink; fruit juice and cakes are best
• Sit on the floor with the food and drink in the middle
• One person proposes several topics
• Everyone votes on the topic they prefer
• The discussion lasts one hour
Bridges and Tangents 
I have often thought how lucky I was in having May of Year 2 for FHC and first term of Year 7 for Confirmation. Top infants believe things they can’t understand but know the difference between adults telling them the truth and teasing them or having fun. It was the one age where I could believe without any difficulty or question or doubt what the priest was doing at the altar. Confirmation just as I started secondary school was obviously a good time to receive the Holy Spirit, and I felt it was another sign of growing up, not least because parents weren’t part of the catechetical process which took place in one of the convents in the parish (how that dates the experience!) rather than at school.
Of the ~120 who’d made their FHC five years earlier, ~100 were confirmed on successive Sundays.
There is such a trusting attitude in top infants. I like your implication that they are nevertheless discerning (consciously or not) between someone telling them the truth and just teasing (or even lying…). I think first year of secondary school was quite a common age for confirmation. Year 9 (age 13-14) seems to be the most common age in my diocese now.
Another great post and I’m glad that this topic has been acknowledged and articulated.
Over the last 10 years of teaching primary age children between 3 and 11, I have had some of the most open, honest, perceptive and challenging conversations of my life!
I must admit that I have always tried to make this type of dialogue possible in my classroom but children are so unbelievably open to questions about life, the universe and everything. Many times I have had to promise children that I will go away and research their queries – in an encyclopaedia, in the Catechism etc.
The one thing that has always astounded me is how quickly the questions (from any random starting point) come down to the nitty gritty – Where is God? Who is God? Where’s heaven? Where’s hell? What are they like? Who will be going there? What is love?
The openness starts to fade by 11 as they become more self conscious and embarrassed by their vulnerability and I always wish they could persevere in being so honest. My motto for all the children I have taught has always been ‘never stop asking questions…’
Adolescence is such a mystery! And it’s so hard for us to know how much of what we associate with adolescence is actually a normal and natural part of growing up, and how much is because of the strange pressures our culture puts on young people. I remember hearing about an experimental school system in Australia that had mixed ages within each class, so that young people would experience taking responsibility for those younger than them, and looking up to those older, etc; not to stop the formation of peer groups, but to make sure the peer group didn’t become the only point of reference for a young person, as it often is in our own culture, especially when there are fewer siblings in a family.
Yes, I was wondering about the optimum age for first Holy Communion and first Confession this year. 8 does definitely seem on the young side in terms of their capacity to understand. And I agree that Year 5s are the best! No opinion about Confirmation age. My Catholic Confirmation took place when I was 25, and that felt the right age for me! But I really don’t know on that one.
I recall that being 10 was the age when I accepted everything I had been brought up to believe within my Anglican upbringing (I became a Roman Catholic aged 21). I would therefore agree that year 5 is, perhaps the best time to prepare young people for the Sacraments. I was Confirmed and made my First Holy Communion in the Anglican Church aged 14 – an age when I was still very much questioning everything but felt more ready to ‘come home’ aged 21. The adolescent in me has not completely gone as I still, aged almost 50, ask the age old question “why?”. I feel, however, that my being raised in the Anglican Church gave me a good foundation for when I made the move to our Church.
Stephen,
Very true about the kids.
I work with students from Kinder to matriculation and it is the little ones who tell it how it is before I can snap my fingers. I tell a story (in cartoon form) about someone who makes a mistake and ask what can happen to repair the situation. The little kids answer my questions so quickly and succinctly.
I know that many things are black and white and many things are composed of mission of colours but sometimes the freedom of honesty alludes us when we charge head long into a rationalizing steeple chase.
A bit like the old linear and non linear composition of things.
Cheers
Vic
Have you come across Oscar Brenifier?
No! Is he interesting?
Sorry, I was distracted!
He teaches (“practices”) philosophy.
http://www.brenifier.com/index.html
I enjoyed watching some of the videos of his school sessions very much – I wish my French were better! (there are some videos in English, but more and more varied in French).