By Doris Chisom Ewo
Children are naturally curious; they are wired to want to know, ranging from a suckling baby to a toddler who hits his spoon on the glass dining room and is excited by the sound it makes. He gradually continues to hit the dining table until he’s cautioned to stop.
Have you ever wondered why your child keeps going back to a restricted area after all the warnings and punishment? It’s nothing more than the eagerness to know what’s there; in his thoughts, he wants to know what’s in that area.
The same way you might not consider what’s been covered in a basket until you are given the instruction never to touch it, you don’t become only worried but equally curious to know why it’s forbidden to be touched by you.
Although adults have learned how to manage their curiosity on their own, unlike our kids, who have to air every one of their thoughts, it can be tiring to listen to all a child has to say and more frustrating to provide them with all the answers they need. But then we can’t run away from this duty of ours as parents, guides, and caregivers. We ought to help inspire this curiosity in them because it’s one of the traits of having a healthy baby who is aware of his environment and the happenings around him.
Even as adults, we live in curiosity till our very last breath; not being eager to know is the same as being dead.
To help your child explore his creativity and stir his curiosity, these are things you ought to do.
WAYS TO FIRE UP CURIOSITY IN A CHILD ARE AS FOLLOWS:
ASK QUESTIONS: I always emphasize asking children questions because I understand the effect on a child’s brain. When having a conversation with a child, make sure you probe further to ask questions; don’t let the dialogue end on the surface. Learn to use the words ‘what if’ and ‘why’ more often.
LISTEN AND HEAR THEM: Don’t shush your child when they come to you with questions; it’s just proof that your child’s imagination and creativity are at work, which is a good thing. Calm down to listen and give answers to the questions asked.
LET THEM SEE YOU CURIOUS: Have you ever let your thoughts out in the midst of your kids? Try that out to hear what they have to say about it. I want to believe you are not a know-it-all parent; let them see that you are curious about a thing and want to know more about it. You don’t have to be the one to provide them with all the answers they seek; you can as well meet them in the middle: “Oh, Danny, I don’t know much about this, but we can figure it out together” or “Mr. Williams knows better about this; we should ask him.” This is a reply that shows you also have the spark to know, which is what curiosity is all about.
Take them away from their comfortable zone. This might be taking them away from their environment to see what life on the other side looks like, but it isn’t limited to that. What about trying to flip their books from the fiction they love to non-fiction books? I know you will get funny looks from them, but I am sure you can do well to convince them. You can actually make Danny do volleyball for the next few weeks instead of soccer. This is him trying to handle a new skillset and getting curious about new things. You can also take them to places of interest, like the museum, art gallery, beach, and many other places.
PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NECESSARY GADGETS: Providing your kids with the necessary tools and gadgets can be a way of firing up their curiosity. Gadgets like laptops, magic cubes, tablets, ULesson, building blocks, etc. Even when you choose to get toys for them, make sure it’s something realistic that fits into the world they are in. You can choose to get them toys of different animals and other things in society. Children learn faster with practice and what the eyes can see.
MAKE ROOM FOR PLAY AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: Playing is also a way of helping your child’s creativity and curiosity. Too much restrictions limits your child’s imagination. Let them play, but also create a safe environment for playtime.