Curiosity is the strong desire to know or learn something. It is the foundation of learning, driving our children to explore, do and think for themselves. Without it, we would all be doing the same thing the same way because that’s how we’ve always done it.
We were all born curious. Babies come into the world with a drive to understand how it works. Newborns follow sounds and interesting objects with their eyes. They touch things before putting it in their mouths. But this natural curiosity is fragile. It needs to be nurtured in a world where the school system emphasises getting the right answers over asking the right questions.
Curiosity is what makes us independent thinkers, problem solvers, lifelong learners, risk takers, and questioners of the status quo.
So what can we do to nurture curiosity at home?
In the play space
- Follow your child's lead. Tune in to what catches their attention – when does their head tilt with wonder? When do their eyes become bigger? Then give them opportunities to lean in to their curiosities.
- Ask questions and question answers. One of the most important things we can do to nurture curiosity is to encourage our children to ask questions: ‘ I wonder why…’ ‘oh, this is interesting! What would happen if…’ ‘hmm...why did…’ ‘how do we know that…?’ Focusing on questions instead of answers allows our children to develop their own sense of curiosity and encourages them to find answers for themselves.
- Slight changes in a play space through toy rotation will pique your child's interest, making them curious and eager to discover. You will be amazed to discover how quick children are to notice a new tray activity in their play space.
- Give your child time and space to think and reflect without distractions.
- Create an experiential learning environment with things to manipulate and experiment with.
In a toy/activity
- Expose your child to collections of items together on a tray or in a basket to spark curiosity over similarities and differences.
- Invite your child to explore. Trays and baskets can be used to invite children to explore themes and concepts they have shown an interest in. For example, if your child seems interested in woodwork, build their understanding of by placing, for example, a single nut and bolt in a tray before eventually adding in more elements that allows them to better understand the world of construction.
- Engage your child's senses by offering them an array of different textures and materials such as wood, metals and rocks instead of only plastic.
- Offer thoughtfully presented, well maintained resources that entice your child to play.
We were all born with natural curiosity but if it’s not nurtured, it can fade away. As parents and caregivers, we can help our children become independent thinkers, problem solvers, and lifelong learners who will be able to make a positive impact on the world.
So how will you foster curiosity in your home?
