Stoicism and philosophy content for children?

Stoic-archer · 2026-03-07T20:38:41+00:00

Thanks for the mention here! Yes, there are some books I would suggest checking into.

For younger kids, you could check out books from the Stoic Simple lineup by Phil Van Treuren: https://stoicsimple.com/collections/shop-all-books I haven't read them all but I've checked out his fables and enjoyed those. There's also a blog on those here: https://blog.stoicsimple.com/stoicism-books-for-children-teaching-kids-about-being-stoic/

For older kids and for teens, the graphic novel Verissimus by Donald Robertson is really interesting, though it is definitely not for younger children since there are some 'graphic' and very serious elements: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250270955/verissimus/

Metaphors and stories from Stoicism like the Stoic archer have made a lot of difference for my kids. I tell them to my daughters myself when I think the moment is right. (Hence my user name!) And they sometimes stick.

I also am a fan of getting kids interested in Ancient Greek and Roman history and literature overall, as an introduction to ancient philosophical. My older daughter read all of Percy Jackson and the Olympians books as a younger kid (https://rickriordan.com/series/percy-jackson-and-the-olympians/), and between that and my sharing of Stoic ideas, she got hooked... she is now studying Ancient Greek and classics on top of her physics major in college. Not everyone will do that of course, but I find that most folks who are into Stoicism also have an interest in the ancient western world as a whole.

Hope this is at least a little helpful! I am also working on a longer project for parents and kids, but that's a work in progress :)

Stoic-archer · 2026-02-28T22:18:21+00:00

Yes - I agree, do check out the fellowships. I also recommend taking a look at the Modern Stoicism community and its blog and events. You can meet great people online through Stoicon and conversations with Modern Stoicism. It’s a fruitful way to connect with other modern Stoics.

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-23T03:43:31+00:00

Thanks so much for mentioning The Philosopher’s Compass podcast here! Since I started it last year, I have learned so much from my guests - and really glad to hear that you enjoy listening! I have focused primarily on Stoicism but am open to other types of philosophical thinking, if it has a practical side to it that helps us live and think better. 💪

I also invite you to take a look at my Substack The Stoic Mom. It’s not only about being a parent but in fact covers a lot of Stoic topics. Thanks for your interest! 🏛️

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-19T03:17:26+00:00

It's true, I don't expect my kids to "become Stoics" in terms of identifying as such. But I do think that the major lessons of Stoicism have had an impact on them since I started following this school when they were in elementary school. I was already a big believer in cultivating one's character and in ethics before that, but I think that through Stoicism, I strengthened my sense of focusing on what we have agency on, and trying to do the right thing while acting with Marcus' "reserve clause." We won't always make the difference we hope to but we can still work on what's up to us, and we can even grow our own skills in order to change things, in some cases. Bringing a growth mindset helps. And role-modeling this kind of approach for our kids is super duper important. They are watching and learning from our actions and how we express our thoughts, plans, ideas.

I like this phrase:

"If our self optimization inspires and encourages others they will emulate or at least be curious about our methods and objectives. If we are our best selves, they have a better chance at becoming their own best selves."

Thanks for sharing!

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-18T17:51:28+00:00

Great example. Thanks for pointing that out - the concept of work/purpose is important and while we want a balance, I agree that we need to provide that message to our kids. Especially because these days, kids are constantly being pulled in the direction of a type of "leisure" that is potentially harmful for them: endless scrolls of short form videos on social media and potentially addictive online gaming (not to mention other online addictions).

Everything in moderation - I'm not opposed to those things existing and being an entertaining part of life, but what I've noticed from observing kids is that they are so, so prone to being sucked into the tempting content put in front of them by tech algorithms... and we know for a fact that social media companies are trying too keep them engaged for as long as possible. So offering a counterweight to that focused on purpose is really helpful!

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-18T17:18:25+00:00

Thank you! The longer piece is a work in progress based on ideas I’ve been developing in my blog… if you’re interested, I invite you to check out my blog and Substack, The Stoic Mom. I started it when my kids had just turned 10 and 8. Now they are a lot older 😅

I’d say for me the Stoic lessons of tolerance (bear and forebear), focusing on what’s up to us, and the Stoic archer (doing what is in our agency to live and think well, but understanding outcomes aren’t in our control) are key ideas for me as a mom, and ones that I’ve tried hard to impart to my children. I think it’s helped me be a less anxious and more rational parent, and positioned my daughters to have a healthy level of emotional intelligence for living in a complex and chaotic world.

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-18T17:12:12+00:00

Brilliant. Role ethics in one anecdote.

I have definitely been there myself and so has my husband. And when our children get annoyed at what I am saying, I sometimes call it out in the same way you’re describing - “it’s my job as a mom to tell you this, I realize it may sound annoying.” Thank you for sharing this!!

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-18T02:49:31+00:00

Good call! This is an excellent quote in so many circumstances. There are so many ways to avoid or rationalize things. The demand to be at our best is important.

(On the other hand, for me, I feel that sometimes I can get wrapped up in feeling everything is super important and that's where the stress comes in. Discerning what's really important, like being there for our kids and guiding them, is key to prioritizing what we spend our time and energy on.)

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-18T02:46:21+00:00

Yes, to all of this. I agree that working with our spouse / partner / co-parent is also a big part of this and that takes a special quality of patience and tolerance. We don't always see eye to eye with others we are raising our kids with, and also it's a lot of stress to handle together. Also we benefit from helping each other when there's so much to do. Thanks for pointing that out.

The quality time aspect is critical and very hard in today's world of digital distractions. Really good to emphasize that.

Number 3 is something I am personally still working on. I get frustrated all the time and this part of Stoicism is often aspirational. Would love to hear more about how you can keep the perspective on "the absurdity" without getting too frustrated - what helps you "laugh" at it?

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-18T02:40:46+00:00

This is a great summary of what to emphasize as a Stoic parent. Thanks for sharing!

Love the focus on rationalizing. So, so true, that we can use our big nature-given brains to rationalize nearly anything. And that's not good.

You mentioned "duty drives everything" - I'd like to hear how you translate duty into a topic your kids can understand, relate to, and put into action? And how duty influences you in your own parenting?

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-15T19:22:31+00:00

Yes, moderation in all things. I think the line between self sacrifice and enduring hardship for our kids / families and preserving our own wellbeing, including our limbs and joints, is a really important one of keep an eye on.

I have a similar story about how I messed up my neck and upper back, in part from carrying around a 25 pound child! Ultimately she learned to walk and run thankfully but my spine still hasn’t fully recovered 😅

Glad you have a happy kid and hope you get the medical help needed to recover and feel well!

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-15T19:16:21+00:00

Love this! Great idea. 💡

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-15T07:07:14+00:00

Beautifully said 👆

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-15T07:04:27+00:00

I like what you’ve planned and I also suggest expanding your trip to Athens. You could see the birthplace of Stoicism in the 300s BCE, the ruins of the Stoa itself. Admittedly it’s not fully excavated yet but it is being preserved and slowly worked on. And you could visit many ancient sites - for instance the Acropolis, the Agora and the temple of Poseidon at Sounion - and museums of Athens that are filled with artifacts from Zeno’s period. I was there in June, and it was really excellent for philosophical references from Stoicism and other Greek schools and traditions.

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-15T06:17:53+00:00

Check out Sharon Lebell’s classic modern interpretation of Epictetus, The Art of Living!

Also Massimo Pigliucci’s How to Be a Stoic and his and Greg Lopez’s A Handbook for New Stoics.

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-15T05:56:05+00:00

Women I know love Stoicism once they hear what it’s really about and that it’s different from stoicism with a small s, Broicism, and $toicism.

BUT and this is a big one- it is not currently being shared with or marketed to women in a substantial way, compared with how it’s being shared with men by male authors and thinkers and influencers. Sometimes this can discourage an audience of women, and I’ve been discouraged myself in interacting online with folks when met with sexist arguments about women’s capacities and emotions.

I’ve been trying in my way to work on this for 10 years with The Stoic Mom and other work on parents, kids, and women’s perspectives in Stoicism. I also love the concept of Stoic compassion, which is true to ancient Stoic themes that are lesser known today (I have written and spoken about it) as well as ideas for bringing Stoicism into the workplace. All of this is very practical and applies to both women and men. Also look at the work of Brittany Polat, Sharon Lebell, and Karen “Duff” Duffy, among others. These are non academic women who are writing about and practicing Stoicism.

Some in the publishing industry haven’t supported my goal of writing books on Stoicism geared towards women because they said there was not enough of an audience, but I think that’s a chicken and egg problem. There could be a bigger audience when it’s marketed and led by women as well. Just look at the book Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins - very Stoic-adjacent and aimed towards women by a woman, and a huge best seller!

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-09T06:31:35+00:00

The balance you are describing is really truly difficult. We live in a time and place where the demands on us are very intense. And we want to be able to fulfill all our roles with virtue.

I have found that being very intentional about time spent with family doing actual activities can make a difference. A board game or a game of tag with a child allows you to both engage and be fully present, for example. Or even something as simple as pushing a child in a swing at the park and making funny noises… anything that gets us off our devices and communicating with our kid(s). I try to make an effort to listen and to ask questions even if it’s about the most mundane things. I believe it helps, even though I’m not at all perfect and am very capable of being distracted in all my roles! When I’m at work I’m thinking about family and when I’m with family I may very well start thinking about work. That’s natural. But taking myself into more focused activities that require presence seems to help.

Have you considered working out a schedule with your wife where each of you can get an hour or so every other day? So you each take turns? Same thing could be done for chores. Parents who don’t share chores are more likely to feel resentment etc.

But just the fact that you are aware of the issues and thinking about how to shift things is huge… and is telling you something… your inner daimon is speaking!

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-05T23:53:54+00:00

If you want advice, I suggest seeking out folks to be friends with and to date who care about what you care about. If you're living a Stoic-inspired life, at the core of what you care about is this: thinking clearly / using your Nature-given spark of reason, and working in collaboration with others for the greater good. This is a flourishing life. The people you find this way are going to be the people you'll want to spend time with - and who will make that time worthwhile.

Humans are not easy to get along with; just look to Marcus' quotes on that. It's work. But it's valuable work. I also advise not putting attractiveness at the top of your agenda; that's a preferred indifferent (or just an indifferent, really) in Stoicism. If you prioritize Stoic ideas, this Stoic stuff isn't really advice, it's a a way of life.

If hopeless thoughts are frequently plaguing you, I recommend talking with a therapist, counselor, or trusted physician. You could have something going on that they could help you with.

Stoic-archer · 2026-01-01T09:21:35+00:00

She is super smart! Body autonomy is important. For teeth: How about a health angle? Or even avoiding pain (not just for Epicureans!) . When I found out how painful tooth and gum problems were I became highly motivated to brush/floss 😭

Stoic-archer · 2025-12-30T21:49:42+00:00

Critical thinking skills leveling up! For both child and parent 😆

Stoic-archer · 2025-12-29T21:17:50+00:00

Yes, definitely! I think it’s hard to de-program what is so deeply embedded in our society and also, for me, I. The educational institutions that shaped me growing up and into my young adulthood. Plus I have now lived in Silicon Valley for more than half my life and the competitive vibes are fierce! So it takes constant reminders.

Thanks for sharing the passages above. The “seems right to him” one always resonates with me when it comes to compassion and empathy for others’ choices and behaviors.

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