Is the study of philosophy age-based, or does it depend more on how the material is taught?

I’ve spoken with educators at different levels who felt that middle school students might struggle with philosophy, mainly because many associate the subject with complex texts like Kant or Aristotle. However, I’ve also seen students engage deeply with big questions—fairness, identity, purpose, logic—when the ideas are presented at the right level. I’m curious how other educators see this. Do you believe middle-school students are capable of meaningful philosophical thinking if the concepts are introduced through age-appropriate methods? What has your experience been?