We know a few things about her. Her name was Phaenarete, she was a mid-wife and her child liked to ask questions- just like mine and yours.
I’ve been asked, “How do you raise a child like that?” A kid that knows about Socrates and is really keen on Shakespeare? The truth is that Mason is really the all-American girl next door. I like to think of her as special, but in many ways she is very normal. The point is, you can do this with your own children or grandchildren and I can show you how. Best of all you won’t even have to break a sweat.
If you subscribe to SorcraticMama, you will receive a daily idea or activity that you can use in secular parenting- practical stuff for busy people. Do the ones that inspire you and leave the others. I am a former classroom teacher and you can read more about me here.
Try this today…
Does your child know about Socrates? As a secularist, he is arguably the most important historical role model you can provide. Three-year-old children around the world learn stories about Jesus, Mohamed, Buddha, and Vishnu, so I promise they handle Socrates.
Here’s a fun way to begin…
Wait until your child asks you a question. It can be of the simplest sort like, “May I watch television now?” or “Can I eat paste?”
Your response is, “I can’t answer that because questions can be dangerous.” Don’t elaborate. Wait to see what they do. Keep this up until they are curious or really mad. Now you have created what is called a “teachable moment.”
Little ones will give in pretty easily, but you may have to become really annoying until your teenager responds. Employ the help of your spouse or partner in this game.
Once your child demands to be let in on the joke, tell them the story of Socrates. Teach them how he encouraged young people to think for themselves and to question authority. Tell them that he was sentenced to death for it. If they roll their eyes and think it is boring, then you haven’t told the story properly. Try again.
In a few days we will go on an Internet treasure hunt!
How can you get your child excited about Socrates?
Lovely simple graphics ~ I like what you’re doing & I will spread the word
Thank you.
It is a fabulous blog! What wonderful ideas. Love, Aunt Anne
Anne, absolutely love your blog. I’m definitely going to try this approach. Ryan has reached that typical 10-year old boy mentality where Maths is good and reading is very, very boring. I suspect that has to do with the reading is a homework assignment for every school night of the past 4 years as opposed to something to enjoy. I have tried not to directly answer a question without making him think, but I’ve never used Socrates. I look forward to your next blog. Hope to get to see you all soon.
Thank you. Please post how it goes.
Fabulous idea for a blog. I can’t wait for more posts. You’ve got me thinking. I’ll talk some of these things with my daughter tonight. Thanks.
Through peripatetic questioning I came across the Voynich manuscript. Maybe we can question it.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voynich_manuscript
GREAT BLOG, WISH I COULD TURN BACK THE CLOCK TO WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE STILL YOUNG AND AT HOME! I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE DONE THIS, NOW MY COCKERSPANIEL AND I WILL LEARN TOGETHER, THANK YOU.
Hi Anne,
Greetings from India. I am a part of a Freethinkers group in India (called Nirmukta). Secular parenting is an uphill task here too and it is good to reach out to people across borders.
I read about Mason’s questioning Hitchens about books to read in ‘Why Evolution is true’ blog and was mighty impressed. I read the post to my eight year old daughter and she says someday she will be your daughter’s friend!
Good to follow your blog. Best wishes
Geetha
Welcome! I am so glad you are here. One of the most unexpected results of our brief meeting with Hitchens is that I no longer feel so isolated. It has been the greatest pleasure to hear from freethinkers literally all over the world. I am sure that Mason would want me to say “hi” to your daughter. Let her know that I am considering adding a forum to this blog soon, so perhaps they will be able to chat there!