A child’s mind is like a freshly made vessel, waiting to be filled up with knowledge.
And believe me, if it is channelised in the right direction, you don’t have to worry about filling it; it’s going to overflow on its own.
The innate curiosity in children sets them on the quest to seek answers for everything.
Why is the sky blue?
How did I come into the world?
Are there dragons and unicorns?
Why can’t we live underwater?
It can go on and on and on.
And as adults in their lives, it is our job to provide them as many answers or opportunities and resources, to seek the answers.
It is this curiosity, this unquenchable thirst for answers, that ignites their love for learning.
And learning must not be restricted to the classrooms.
Creating an Environment That Stimulates Curiosity
The first thing to do is to create an environment that stimulates curiosity.
Encourage them to explore and discover things by themselves. Provide them different kinds of materials and resources. From puzzles, educational toys to books. Everything provides a chance to learn something new.
Picture books and encyclopaedias for children are filled with colourful pictures and images which can fuel their curiosity.
You can get them science kits or art kits. Let them try out and see what comes out. Don’t think of them messing up the place. Instead the cleaning-up too can be part of the learning process.
Jigsaw puzzles or sorting games are good at developing their analytical thinking.
When playing with blocks or Legos, let them get creative. You can add to the excitement by starting a story. Let the story keep evolving with the construction of their imaginary world.
Take it a notch further by nurturing a two-way question-friendly atmosphere.
Ask them questions about what they are doing, ask them to explain the process, what are they thinking. Also encourage their questions about the activity they are doing. Sometimes the questions can wear you down (and that’s an unavoidable part), don’t scold or be impatient. Instead ask them leading questions, or let them come up with the answers. This gives them a chance to explore further and make connections.
Integrating Learning into Everyday Life
And please don’t restrict their learning to the classroom. It becomes confined and constricted to the textbooks.
Use the everyday activities to excite curiosity.
Like, ask the children to help you with baking and let it be a chance to learn about measurements and heat and textures.
A rainy day can be a perfect opportunity to learn about the different climates, the water cycle, and environment.
You can use budgeting exercises to practice counting and addition, while also learning about the importance of money and saving.
Explore different hobbies and interest without expecting them to excel at each one of them.
Playing with clay can improve their motor skills, strengthen the muscles and give an outlet to their creativity.
Build a birdhouse over a weekend. Or, go star gazing on a clear summer night.
The possibilities are endless and all it needs is for you to provide them the opportunities and encourage them to ask questions.
Fostering a Growth Mindset and Resilience
Children love challenges. Each new idea or activity provides them with another set of new ideas or thoughts. And they love to chase after them until something else distracts or diverts their attention.
Help them to continue and persevere. Guide them through the difficult stretches.
Just remember, don’t solve their problems. Assist them, guide them, help them to find the solutions. This will keep their curiosity burning and their interest alive.
Acknowledge and praise their efforts. It will boost their confidence.
And certainly don’t criticise and focus on their failures. It can embarrass them and may even put them off trying anything new.
Mistakes are their way of finding out, of discovering their strengths. These mistakes will make them stronger, smarter, resilient, confident, and self-assured.
Conclusion
It’s a distracting world out there. Their attention is being bombarded with so many numbing prospects that it’s a real challenge for the parents to get them of the gadgets and try doing something by themselves.
Under such circumstances, it is critical that you try to engage your children with meaningful activities which will help them to develop their many skills and strengths.
It’s important to keep the children motivated and enjoy the learning process. The more their minds are stimulated, the more they will be curious to learn about new things.
It’s your responsibility to foster this love for learning so that they can continue to evolve into well-developed and thinking adults.
Summer time is the perfect time to let your children explore their interests and discover new hobbies.
A book which caters to the young readers and their quest to experiment with a new skill – cooking!
Don’t forget to grab your copy!
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