Distinguish between the history of philosophy and philosophical thinking. Place the emphasis on philosophical thinking rather than its history or abstract philosophical concepts. The goal in teaching philosophy is to teach children critical thinking skills and promote a spirit of inquiry.
Introduce children to philosophical inquiry by appealing to their experiences. Philosophy is motivated by curiosity and the desire to make sense of the world. For example, ask such questions as "What is the difference between dreams and reality?", "How do we know that fruits and vegetables are good for us?", "Should bad behavior be punished?" "What is friendship?". Encouraging them to think and question their experiences allows them to see that some questions are solved by appealing to empirical evidence but other questions require other sorts of evidence.
Read philosophical stories and narratives to the class and engage the class in a discussion about the major ideas and elements of the story. Select topics and stories relevant to the age group and background of the students in the class. Encourage children to ask and respond to questions. This promotes a spirit of dialogue or what philosophers refer to as the "Socratic method." Discussing a philosophical topic allows the participants to see it from multiple perspectives, allows them to clarify their own views, and gives them a deeper appreciation for the views of others.
Another strategy is to divide the class into sections and have the children take different sides in a debate about the topics raised by the story.
Encourage the children in the class to read and write about philosophical topics.