Should we teach philosophy to children?

Philosophy teaches critical thinking and should be taught to children early

Children lack the cognitive maturity to grasp abstract philosophical concepts meaningfully. Their concrete operational thinking stage, as identified by Piaget, shows they struggle with hypothetical reasoning until around age 11-12. Teaching philosophy prematurely could confuse rather than enlighten, creating superficial understanding without genuine comprehension. Young minds need foundational skills in reading, mathematics, and basic reasoning before tackling complex metaphysical questions. Studies from the University of Melbourne found that children who received philosophy instruction too early showed no significant improvement in critical thinking compared to peers who learned it later. Why rush abstract thinking when concrete skills remain underdeveloped?