EXCERPT FROM IGNITE YOUR IDEAS: CREATIVITY FOR KIDS (pp. 25-27)
Curiosity is powerful. It fuels creativity, as well as intelligence, aspirations, and purpose. You can exercise your curiosity through wonder, inquiry, conversations, sharing ideas, seeking to understand, and thinking. (And then thinking some more!)
Inquiry and Purpose
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, or to request what you need, such as supplies, guidance, feedback, and opportunities to go, and see, and do! For example, are you curious about climate change? Farming? Volcanoes? Sports? Parrots? You can talk with others about your curiosity, your sense of wonder, and how you can acquire information, answers, and opportunities to experience learning—and master challenges that will motivate you and enable you to advance further.
Curiosity can embolden you by getting you into “action mode.” That is, away from screens or off the couch so you can interact meaningfully with others. In a series of podcasts, host Stephen Barkley asked me if creativity has to do with “purposeful action.” I responded, “Yes!” In fact, that’s a great way to think about it. Creativity is not necessarily about coming up with some sort of product (although that might occur), but rather it’s about activating your mind and nurturing your ideas. Having a sense of purpose is an added bonus. It’s like having your own personal GPS (Global Positioning System) to help direct you as you proceed.
You don’t know what you don’t know until you ask. Should you speak up? Should you be persistent? Should you be curious?
Absolutely!
Benefits
Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist, and arguably one of the smartest people in recent history. He said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” He believed that curiosity empowered his learning and creative thinking.
Curiosity can boost intelligence, hopes, and dreams, and help you push beyond what you know or what you can already do.
What avenues can you investigate? Magic, mapping, mazes, magnetic forces…? You can acquire resources through multiple access points across a wide spectrum, and follow your passions. Each day is a chance to learn new things—to gather information, respond to it creatively, and then beam it out proudly. Walt Disney said, “When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do!”
Interestingly, curiosity is piqued in much the same way that creativity develops—deriving from dialogue, sharing, understanding, and thought. Both curiosity and creativity involve building upon knowledge.
Be purposeful. Ask questions, get answers!
Author’s Note:
Safeguard what matters to you, including enthusiasms, curiosity, and ways of being creative. (p. 48)
Curiosity and inquiry are combustible—like rocket fuel—and can propel you to new heights. (p. 129)
Find out more about how to stoke curiosity in Ignite Your Ideas: Creativity for Kids.
