How to boost curiosity in kids?

How to boost curiosity in kids?

Curious Kids

I’m sure you all must have read my last post on curiosity and how I’m bombarded with zillions of questions. That’s what childhood is about and that’s how curiosity takes the shape of knowledge. This quote by legend Albert Einstein, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing”, resonates with me today. The more questions my child does looking at the surroundings or the activities undertaken, the more he learns. It can be easily deferred that the more curious a child is, the more he learns. If this inquisitiveness is given the right nurturing, it can help kids become learner’s throughout.

Just think for a moment, who are the nurturers of curiosity in kids? Either, we parents or teachers, right? Though kids are naturally curious, it depends a lot on us to help them seek right answers. We need to look upon the activities that elevates their interests. Baby A has a sort of insatiable curiosity when it comes to vehicles and robots. He is always in a mode to know how do these things work, what are various parts responsible, how they are made and so on. At this age we have to give him these mechanical learnings in a simplistic manner. And it is amazing to see the knowledge retained by him. Age 3+ is the right time to nurture a child’s curiosity, well in a subtle way.

Did you know that Curiosity is one of eight core abilities (Curiosity, Empathy, Resilience, Self-awareness, Creativity, Integrity, resourcefulness, sociability) which is must for kids to be successful?

Are you blessed with Curious child? You're lucky as curiosity is the path to the most important learnings in a child's life. Here are 5 tips to help you - How to boost child's curiosity. #inquisitive #raisingchildren #curiouskids #development #parenting #parentingtip

5 Tips to Boost a child’s Curiosity :

1. Answer the questions rightly, basis your child’s development :

Well answering rightly is the key. The questions posed by kids are quite precarious and we need to answer them keeping in mind the child’s development. What matters here more is the type of answers you give. Never give answers as ” Its because I’m saying” or “Things are this way only”. Stop doing that right away, you’re adding a speed breaker to your child’s budding mind. You can rather counter question them, as, What do you think could be the reason? Let kids use their grey matter sometimes and pop up with the answers? It would not be correct most of the times, that’s the fun. But this provokes kids to use their imaginations and come up with their own answers. You always have the time to explain them the right facts.

I’ve often used this quizzing method and baby A has always responded with some quirky answers and he feels so excited to tell me his thoughts.

At times, even I don’t have answers to my child’s question, and we have many such days. Once he questioned me, mama how many teeth a shark has? Quite perplexed, I informed him that we need to take the help of “Google” and we together browsed to find the right answer!

2. Read, Quizz :

And once we found out that a shark can have as many as 3000 rows of teeth, next we thought to enhance our knowledge base. Well, he had never counted is own teeth before. He did that excitedly and we built a small story around our teeth. The next day we got a small story book around Dental health as well. Interesting, informative and basis his age. That was a perfect achievement.

So, the point here is you should have “curiosity toolkit” ready. Pick up the objects your kids are curious about, plan stories, read them from the library, engage in some art and craft. While reading together, keep on quizzing kids, as in “what do you think would have happened after this, or Who is going to help them” or more so. Quizzing and putting across open ended questions broadens up a child’s horizon and gives them a pause to think and imagine.

Are you blessed with Curious child? You're lucky as curiosity is the path to the most important learnings in a child's life. Here are 5 tips to help you - How to boost child's curiosity. #inquisitive #raisingchildren #curiouskids #development #parenting #parentingtip

3. Promote Natural Interests :

Observe! Very keenly see and find out the natural interests that your child shows. Look upon the things that fascinates him. Start the learning curve from there, rather than doing it randomly.

Encourage natural interests. Children learn so much more through activities that capture their attention and imaginations. Capture those signs, ready up their tool kit, find related books and there you go. Try to give them the dose of practical experience’s. Children retain more what they actually see.

I remember, once Baby A was quite fascinated with Earthworms from his book. He started wiggling like the worms. What next, we took our sheets, colours, magnifying lens and went for the nature walk in the garden. Looking out for bugs, insects was quite a fun for us. And yes we followed it with reading story as well.

4. Stimulating Environment :

Babies are always curious about their surroundings. As they grow, kids want an answer to all what they see. Hence, we need to have a stimulating environment. Kids are enticed with colours, pictures, new objects. You can improve upon sensory development by keeping sense stimulating things. Try changing one or two things around the house in a week, Shuffle up their Toy inventory, try changing some routines. Opt for experiential walks and tours. While you are doing these changes, keep on interacting with children about the differences they observe and their interests. While in garden, try asking your child, which all colours does this butterfly has or how many rose shrubs can they spot.

5. Free Play time :

Lego has a booklet with set of instructions to come up with a defined art. Did you give your child the set without any instruction and allowed him to come up with his own creativity? Well, I do that only and I get various objects as Gun, Traffic light, a Rocket and what not. It is must for us to leave kids juggling up with their play. Be it simply running, or leaving kids with clay or lego, kids ought to have their “Free Play” time everyday in a completely unstructured manner.

It not just helps in their creativity, but also allows them a chance to entertain themselves. They need to explore various plays from different things. Let kids play, this time boosts their Creativity and Curiosity as well.

Well, these are some activities which over the time I have learnt with my curious child. Each one of these points needs to be clubbed and then worked upon to boost up a child’s curiosity. I would like to know from my readers, how do you boost your child’s curiosity?

Love,

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Jhilmil

Quest to live the life surrounded with the charming little bundle's of joy. When they speak, I sing, When they smile, I rejoice , When they hug, I hold them never to lose, Such is my passion for these Gifts of God.This love urged me to navigate separately from my Travel Blog & establish an "All-In-One" Blog for budding mothers. Mum's have multi-tasked this world ,with all her professional commitments , she still makes an extra effort to be a loving, caring and be an intellectual mommy! Cheers, for me too come from the same fraternity, post having a superb academics & close to 8 years of professional experience and blessed with a little one "who has indeed changed my life from Autumn to Spring";)

This Post Has 18 Comments

  1. Princy Khurana

    this is a great compilation of activities that can be done with kids, i have a toddler and sometimes i am at my wits end how to keep my child creative and busy as well as curious

  2. Sajid Akhter

    Hi Jhilmil,

    Interesting read. A curious child can be more than handful. Jokes apart, curiosity plays a key role in the overall development of a child. The more question they ask, the better knowledge seeker they will be. Spending time with in the open can teach them a lot of things naturally. They will understand things around them better and you can be a guiding force behind them.

    Thank for sharing, have a great day. 🙂

  3. Noor Anand Chawla

    I have a very inquisitive toddler and I completely agree with everything you have outlined in this post. A child’s curiosity must be encouraged and cultivated to achieve maximum mental growth.

  4. Ritu Kalra

    There is no perfect methodology to parenting..it’s always a new experiment each day..but these wonderful tips are definetly helpful in doing right parenting

  5. Surbhi Prapanna

    Such an excellent post and all points had been defined very well. I agree that various creative and intellectual activities help a lot in raising curiosity in kids and also good for creative, cognitive and emotional development.

  6. Ramya Abhinand

    I so agree with all your points. Especially the free play time cause it lets them explore on their own and thus brings in a greater level of curiosity. ALas, in todays busy lives, this is what kids lose out on.

  7. Akanksha Goel

    What a lovely read Jhilmil! My son also asks a lot of questions. This is the age of asking What and Why. They need reasons for everything which is good. I agree answering right is the key!

  8. Bushra

    Indeed curiosity in children help in mental development of kids. The different ways you share like doing quizzes etc. Would definitely helps in this.

  9. Priyal

    True curiosity plays an important role when it comes to the development of our kids. You have come up with very important post. Thanks for sharing

  10. I agree free play is key to assisting innate curiously. 2ndly also seeing what they like and are curious about and developing on their likes. Loved the post

  11. Deepa

    Free play time and asking questions is the best way to boost curiosity in kids. One must help kids to be curious as it helps them to be smart and intelligent.

  12. Deepika Verma

    I am glad you wrote about ‘how to BOOST curiosity’ because I often see parents not letting children ask a lot of questions or explore. I loved the tips you mentioned

  13. Nisha

    Allowing them to enjoy childhood is the best way to help them learn and understand things in a better way. Let them ask questions and answer them with logic that will keep them interested in the topic.

  14. Charu Chittwal

    Loved reading each and every point mentioned, curiosity to Know more about a right thing is one of the best habits a child can have undoubtedly, thank you for sharing

  15. Ruchi Verma

    I really love the way you convey small things in the best way…every point you mentioned is really worth

  16. Nidhi KM

    Providing the right kind of atmosphere is very important for kids.Their curiosities should be handled well.You have well laid the platforms that we can provide to kids to increase their inquisitiveness.

  17. Snigdha Prusti

    My son is a very curious boy. He asks lots of questions everytime and I know it is a good sign of brain development .Answeing those questions rightly is the key.

  18. Shub

    Kids are naturally curious and as a parent we have to ensure that they remain the same. I loved the tips that you have shared. Worth following each of them.

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