Most adults assume that curiosity is innate and that it is during childhood when the desire to discover the world is clearly manifested. However, many of these people seem to forget that they were once children and end up discouraging the curious child, the natural essence of their children or students. But what do we know today about CURIOSITY? It is true that in the time we live in, and knowing that we have greater knowledge of the development of the child’s brain, with access to neurologically-based theories that justify the need to encourage and maintain this curiosity we’re talking about. It is interesting to see how a natural process related to being human needs to be defended by science.

What is Curiosity?

Curiosity is the interest we have in our environment, the society we live in, and the whole world around us. The recognition and acceptance of the curious child is a pending issue in Western culture, which has replaced children’s freedom with extreme planning and organization of their lives. However, what we can’t restrict or keep in specific places (because it is universal) is that we are born with a latent curiosity that is able to “launch us” to explore the world with great eagerness after the age of 2 years (the age at which it can be said that bonding and identification with our parents, our reference, are concluded). It is during so-called early childhood (from age 8) that this whirlwind of questions arises. Questions that disarm parents and teachers, and that (although sometimes exhausting) must be cultivated and cared for.

Curious Children Are Happier

Curiosity is linked to individual happiness, even though this quality is so often reprimanded socially. The curious child asks about and examines everything in their path and does so without restrictions, which can sometimes be confused with indiscretion or cheekiness. In fact, all of this has a basis in the brain that has already been studied. The brain during these early years of life is very busy generating new circuits and connections, so it consumes a lot of energy, but at the same time, intense activity justifies the need to discover the reasons behind things and to incessantly explore. The curious child plays, tests, and experiments, and doesn’t care if they break certain social norms or rules; otherwise, they won’t be able to learn what is interesting to them. When we speak of social norms, we mean (for example) in domestic and academic contexts, the need to occupy unusual spaces to paint (like a wall), break with symmetry, or get to mathematical results without following standard procedures, and so on. Of course, to achieve harmonious coexistence in shared spaces, we may need to restrain how they express themselves (for example, by providing a blackboard or a sheet of paper), but you should never judge or question the curious child (their questions) or their self-expression. So we understand that the curious child has curiosity as an inner guide that (if not stifled) shows the world as an exciting place to explore. It is very interesting to know that, if children are not subjected to very rigid behavior or learning rules, they are highly open to new things and maintain mental flexibility throughout their lives, which also makes them more sociable and competent in interpersonal relationships.

Where Does Curiosity Come From?

The rapid brain growth during the first years of life justifies an enormous expenditure of energy and a high consumption of glucose, more than a developed adult brain. The child’s brain has more neurons that need to be nourished. And what happens as it grows? It is observed that (around adolescence) a process known as neuronal pruning begins, which eliminates connections related to skills that are not practiced, so they are lost from disuse. Based on this idea, it is possible to affirm that a child’s need to try many activities of interest, until (finally) settling on what they like most is curiosity. And the diversity of interests that appears in the early years of life is positive to the extent that it allows them to discover which activity really satisfies them and for which they have notable abilities. However, the curiosity of the curious child should not only be limited to its effects on academic or leisure fields, since very interesting skills can be acquired if this exploring curiosity takes other paths. Contact with nature, for example, ends up being the best way of learning, allowing them to learn to respect the environment. Some scholars state that of the 24 strengths humans may possess, one is curiosity, which ultimately becomes a way of satisfaction.

Biggest Childhood Curiosities

The curious child asks, questions, and has a universe of creations in their little head. This phase begins around age 5, when the child is starting to better understand their surroundings and can at the same time be both a delight and a headache for parents. British website research points out that mothers are the ones who struggle the most, as children prefer to have their questions answered by them. Many times, these questions can be funny, such as:

  • Where do babies come from;
  • Why their genitals are different from daddy’s or mommy’s;
  • Why the sky is blue;
  • Where the sky ends;
  • How fish breathe underwater;
  • Why there are evil people in the world, and many others.

How to Nurture Children’s Curiosity

The curious child uses all the questions that arise in their mind as an engine for learning, so fueling this curiosity can help them better understand some situations and benefit their critical sense.

How can teachers help the curious child?

The first thing is to banish fears and prejudices; it may be necessary to make an effort to forget the negative things said about the curious child: they are bold, restless, indiscreet, inattentive. Reverse these definitions and transform them to: “they are spontaneous, very interested, genuine…”, this way, you can look at them with fresh eyes, which will be very beneficial for everyone.

  • Work on communication and create a sense of surprise.
  • Listen, show interest in their questions, encourage the curious child to seek surprises, let them laugh and be happy during class.
  • Share parts of your life with them.

Moreover, not all your classes have to be routine: one day you can tell an anecdote, another day present a challenge, on the third play soothing music for 10 minutes, and on the fourth take them to the lab to do an experiment — and it’s even better if it’s a surprise for them.

How can parents help the curious child?

Accept their questions, answer their concerns, don’t judge, adapt to their interests, and try to respond. The curious child is not just a child often labeled as indiscreet, but a child who maintains something very useful for their development. It’s important to remember that parents have the responsibility to help them believe in a world more open to their interests, and thus become drivers of change. Curiosity is not a map, but a compass.

See Also: Family Nudity, Yes or No?
Photos: vikvarga