Philosophizing with Children about Money
What if everyone had as much money as they wanted? Does money make you happy? Can all wishes be fulfilled with money? Children need to find answers to such fundamental questions during their development. Eva Woodtli Wiggenhauser is a primary school teacher and develops teaching material for children. "Philosophizing helps children to bring order to the world," she says, and provides three tips for talking to children.
Tip 1: Let Children Make Their Own Discoveries.
Even children like philosophizing, about anything and everything, but also about money. When you're philosophizing, there are no clear, absolute answers that apply to everyone. People who philosophize always look at the whole picture, and try to understand. For that reason, there's never just one opinion. What's important is that you as a parent express your opinion without demanding that your child shares it.
On the basis of your attitudes, your children can form their own. Philosophizing helps children to bring order to the world. This presupposes that you as an adult let your children make their own discoveries.
Eva Woodtli Wiggenhauser
Primary school teacher,
German specialist, copywriter
Tip 2: There's No Right or Wrong.
Adults also ask questions, and don't have all the answers. As parents, you will succeed in philosophizing if you ask suitable questions and moderate the discussion. In this way, everyone involved – adults and children – will understand their position better as the conversation proceeds. The only condition is that you don't just want to pass knowledge on to your child. Because philosophizing is not about questions that are easy to answer, but rather deals with fundamental questions to which there are no quick answers.
Tip 3: Be Open to Different Situations.
Philosophizing with children about money doesn't need a particular context. But a philosophical discussion cannot be forced either. If the context is right, then it can happen anywhere: It can occur spontaneously at the dining table, in the kitchen or even when out shopping. There are also no requirements in terms of time. As soon as the conversation dries up, it's time to change the subject.
