Families For Life | Kindling curiosity in children
Remember what the world felt like as a child? With so many things to see and do, it seemed like every day was an adventure with plenty to explore! Some of us might still feel that way even now. A healthy sense of curiosity is what drives us to pursue discoveries and, more importantly, guides our learning about the world.
Naturally curious, it’s not too hard to tap into our children’s innate desire to learn. With the right approach, you can nurture that curiosity and guide them toward becoming confident, independent learners! Read on to discover how everyday moments can turn into learning moments that spark curiosity!
Encourage your child to ask ‘WHY’
‘Why is the sky blue?’, ‘Why do birds fly?’, ‘Why is the sun so bright?’
Many parents have heard these questions, maybe even multiple times a day! Far from just chatter, it’s a great sign that your child is curious about the world and eager to learn.
Young children are naturally motivated to explore their environment out of the sheer joy of discovery. As parents, our role is to encourage them and create an enriching environment that nurtures their curiosity. Here are some ways you can do so:
Provide your child with opportunities to explore new surroundings and try new activities. Take them to the beach to play in the water or the park to go cycling! Model curiosity for your child by wondering aloud about your surroundings.
When your child asks questions, respond with interest and enthusiasm. Be patient, your answer could lead to some thoughtful insight! Consider looking up the answer together and learn something new with your child.
Reduce screen time and allow them more time for creative play. Let them develop their interests naturally and let play time build their curiosity and creativity!
By encouraging your child to ask questions and giving them freedom to explore, you can foster a healthy interest in the world and give them the confidence to chase answers independently.
Teach the art of paying attention
An attentive child is alert and capable of focused looking and listening. Curiosity serves as a motivation for learning while attentiveness keeps them on track! You can help your child learn to direct their attention with these tips:
Don’t rush activities. Younger children may need a longer time to get involved and engaged with the activity. Give your child time to think and attempt a task before stepping in.
Give your child the freedom to navigate problems. For example, a toddler might make a mess trying to feed themselves, but the practice will help your child learn how to feed themselves.
Observe your child. If they are on the right track, let them complete the task by themselves.
Freedom is a good thing in play or when attempting tasks. The satisfaction of completing an objective by themselves is also a great motivator for them to discover more.
Don’t forget to nurture a critical thinker
Thinking critically is the ability to think and reason for oneself. In this digital age, having the ability to question any message or fact is a crucial skill for kids as they are exposed to large quantities of information on the internet.
Try these tips to encourage your child to think critically:
Ask your child open-ended questions to give your child the opportunity to think through their answers. For example, ask ‘How can we solve this problem?’ instead of offering a solution right away.
When your child asks you a question, help your child hypothesise an answer before providing an answer.
Nurture higher-order thinking skills by teaching them how to analyse, compare, contrast, and make inferences.
Developing critical thinking skills can help your child take their curiosity one step further. Being able to navigate misinformation and think for themselves is an indispensable skill to have as they explore the world.
Nurturing a curious mind means allowing your child to guide their learning. With these tips, you can equip your child with useful skills that they carry into adulthood! Let’s do our best to create learning environments at home that spark curiosity in our little ones.