“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” – William Arthur Ward, American writer
Remember how you left your tiny tot alone for a minute only to come back and find him making a mess out of mummy’s makeup? Or, how the little one hurt her knee trying to reach out for that shiny box that lay so far out of her grasp? Well, instances like these are all displays of a natural trait found in every child, and that is curiosity.
Curiosity is an inherent attribute in all children that starts manifesting itself from the earliest age. The natural desire to figure out how the world around them works is something that no child needs to be taught by anyone. However, if we can make the best possible use of this natural curiosity from a young age, we can actually aid and enhance their learning abilities.
On that note, we, at Sapphire International School, recognized among the best CBSE school in Noida, will share a couple of ways with you today that we believe would be useful in tapping into the curiosity of the kids to guide them into learning.
Use their natural interests as a learning opportunity
When it comes to nurturing and putting the curiosity of children to good use, you will have to follow their lead instead of trying to get them into liking something. If the child loves music, get him/her a toy guitar and tell interesting facts about sound and musical notes. Get the kid some good books on butterflies and bugs if he/she can’t seem to stop chasing them around in the garden. Children learn more through activities that capture their imaginations.
Give age-appropriate answers to all their questions
“Mom, how do plants eat?” When your five-year-old asks this question, explaining the complex mechanism of chlorophyll and the structure of stomata would be too much, isn’t it? Just like a plant, curiosity also has to be nurtured to make it grow. And, a sure way of doing that is by answering their questions in an age-appropriate manner that increases their desire to know more about the subject. Remember, brushing off their questions is never an option, especially when the aim is to use their curiosity as a learning opportunity.
Go ahead and try to find answers with your children
It is equally important to let children know that it is okay to not have all the answers. In fact, use this opportunity to show them how to find the answers. Accompany them to the nearest library or a book store to find the books that can give them the answers they need.
Take trips together to stimulate their minds even further
Traveling is a great way to stimulate their young, curious minds even further. It does not always have to be a proper vacation in the mountains or seaside. Even a simple trip to the museum or a walk in the park nearby in the morning is enough to pique their interest. We can assure you that there will be a lot of questions along the way from your little genius, so go prepared!
Make way for different open-ended activities
There are some toys that are made to be used in a certain way, but even besides those, you will have to introduce other materials that they can use imaginatively. So, give the kid stuff like play-dough, boxes, pots, and the likes that intrigues their mind. Don’t tell them what to do with the material, and let them come up with their own ideas to create things.
We, at Sapphire International School, believe that curiosity is one of the greatest skills we can ever nurture in our kids. And as parents, you have what we can call the ‘ring-side’ view into your kids’ inquisitiveness. This curious nature only expands and advances as children grow, and hence the show will never end. What you can do in this situation is to help them learn ways to satisfy their thirst for knowledge through the means of exploring, reading, and analyzing, as we have outlined in this article above.
