Yes! And, here’s my (rather imaginative) addendum:
Curiosity is like a possibility potion—derived from wonder and anticipation, and peppered with question marks. A couple of droplets and you’re good to go!
Whether on a snowy hill, a woodland trail, a sunny beach, or someplace else, discoveries await. When kids are curious, they find exciting things to explore, and activities to stimulate their learning. Curiosity is the stuff of science fairs, problem-solving initiatives, inventions, and artistic endeavors. It helps with navigating transitions, building relationships, making memories, and feeling motivated. Most importantly, curiosity fuels intelligence, creativity, and aspirations, and inspires kids to become self-directed learners.
BEING PROACTIVE
How can kids operationalize, and “up the ante” on curiosity? They can ask questions, participate in conversations, share ideas, change things up (routines or habits), seek to understand what’s not familiar, and extend what is familiar. And. of course, curiosity involves thinking—for example, engaging in creative, constructive, divergent, or spontaneous thought.
Curiosity can embolden kids (or adults), getting them into “action mode,” and off screens and sofas. Walt Disney said, “When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do!” Indeed, action and purposeful intent can lead to fun, knowledge—and additional curiosity!
THE POWER OF PURPOSE
Having a sense of purpose is like having a personal GPS (Global Positioning System), geared up for directional ease.
Kids can ask themselves, “What’s meaningful?” Or intriguing, odd, confusing, or even upsetting. These kinds of undercurrents can fuel their curiosity. Wanting to understand, resolve, or facilitate matters can provide purposeful impetus for curiosity-driven learning.
Parents and teachers are well-positioned to strengthen that sense of purpose, and to support kids’ curiosity, by demonstrating the value of being inquisitive themselves. They can also consider practicalities. This may include providing supplies, guidance, feedback, and ample opportunities to go places, collaborate with others, have adventures, and investigate topics of interest. For instance, how about volcanoes? Baseball statistics? Cloud formations? Submarines? Spiders? Kids can stoke their wonder, and fortify purpose, by taking these two steps:
1) Gather information. Observe, pose questions, attend to answers, and do some research.
2) Be willing to persevere and overcome challenges that may arise. Effort, focus, resilience, determination, AND curiosity will propel advancement!
BENEFITS OF CURIOSITY
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”
~ Albert Einstein
Curiosity can empower learning and boost levels of intelligence across domains. It has the potential to broaden the scope of hopes and dreams, and to entice people (of all ages) to push beyond what they know or can already do. Curiosity is energizing! Those who probe—and reflect upon—the who, what, where, when, why, and how of life, acquire information, and become better equipped to overcome difficulties.
By encouraging kids to appreciate and follow their passions, pursue avenues of exploration, engage in unstructured play, and check out resources and collaborations, they can experience enlightenment and pleasure.
LAST WORDS
Curiosity is piqued by inquiry, dialogue, sharing, creativity, understanding, and thought—and involves building upon knowledge. There’s a magical quality to curiosity, and yet the beauty of it is that it is well within reach. Each day is a chance to start anew, embrace curiosity, and enjoy its impact!
