This is a collaborative post
What does it mean to be inquisitive and why is that a good thing? All children are born to be naturally inquisitive – they constantly explore and study the world around them from babyhood and this carries on into adulthood.
As children grow, so does their passion for learning; babies literally have one job – to learn. It’s the same for older children but as children develop, they also become distracted and it’s important to keep their inquisitive natures fed and nurtured.
Introduce new environments
Even if you can’t travel far, it’s so important to expose your child to new and interesting places on a regular basis.
This boys’ school in St Albans ensures its pupils go on many extra-curricular trips to grow their sense of self and awareness of the world around them. Some ideas for interesting places to visit which you can find in most towns or villages include –
- Local museums – even the smallest can offer excitement
- Churches and other places of worship – study architecture
- Farms – some city farms allow visits and animal viewing
- Local waterways such as streams and rivers – learn about the plants and animals
- Woodlands
- Local businesses
- Town Halls and council buildings are sometimes open to the public
All of these places are usually close by – discovering more about their community is important for children’s development. Big buildings in town aren’t just there to pass by – all perform a function, why not share them with your child?
Answer questions when you can – research when you can’t
We can’t all know everything about all subjects and if your child asks questions which you can’t answer, teach them how to research things so they can learn more effectively.
The internet can offer answers but it’s important to help your child learn which sources of information are the most reliable. Teach them to question facts and to double-check things rather than to rely on one website for an answer. Inquisitive children learn faster, retain more information and ultimately make better students. Help your child learn by learning alongside them – it’s fun to learn as a family so you could get other members of your household to join in!
