Mama Life - Collaborative Post
What does it mean to be inquisitive? Aren’t children naturally inquisitive? Yes they are – and there’s the key issue. Many parents quite naturally get tired of the constant questions which children (particularly small ones!) seem to ask. “What is this? What is it for? Why does it do that?”. The list goes on and on.
The problem is that these questions do need answers. This is how children learn. When they’re showing an interest in something, it’s vitally important that they feel listened to and that they know their questions have value. The only way to do that is to answer them! That’s not a problem – until it is! We’re all busy as adults. We have work, jobs to do at home, hobbies and interests to pursue but children need to have their thoughts heard and that includes their questions! As this independent college in London believes, communication between teacher or parent and child is vital for a child’s future success.
The problem with constant questions is that where small children are concerned, it can become tiring to answer them all the time. One tip is to teach children as quickly as possible to introduce their question like so – “Excuse me please, I have a question.” This allows the child to draw the attention of the adult closest to them (and it won’t always be you) in a polite manner. It’s not a rude or interrupting way for a child to get some attention but it is a clear and obvious call for assistance – one which few adults can ignore. If the adult they’re addressing is busy, they can say “I’ll answer it in just a moment.” As a result, both parties are happy!
Teach your child that their voice matters
By showing your child how to ask questions, you’re showing them that you value their learning experience and that what they think matters. This is vital as they get older and their questions become more complex. All children will benefit from plenty of opportunities to exercise their minds.
Joining groups such as Brownies and Cubs or Scouts and Guides will help your child to learn about a vast array of subjects and to work as part of a team in problem solving and team building. Similarly, non-sporting activities and clubs offer valuable opportunities for children to learn more and as a result, to become more inquisitive. Some ideas for non-sporting clubs and activities are as follows:
Metal detecting
Bird watching
Art
Drama
Woodwork
Musical instruments
Singing
Volunteering in the community
As children’s minds are broadened, they naturally have more questions. Show them from the very early days that their questions matter and that you always want to hear them. In this way, your child will grow to be a bright, enquiring adult.
