How to Raise an Inquisitive Child

This is a collaborative post.

Children with a natural sense of curiosity are always learning, because they ask lots of questions and investigate to find answers. This is great, and something that parents should try and encourage. There are many ways to spark your child’s inquisitive nature, as explored below by a prep school in Hertfordshire.

Ensure Your Child Has New Experiences

Of course, children need a schedule, but it’s important that things don’t become stale. Mix up your routine from time to time to ensure your child is constantly experiencing new things.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to travel to the other side of the globe; it could be something as simple as trying a new recipe for dinner or getting them to help you with a household chore they haven’t done before, like mowing the lawn.

New activities and experiences will stimulate your child’s mind and encourage them to think outside the box. The idea is to remind your child that there is more to life than the four walls they live in and the knowledge they already have, there’s still so much more to see and learn.

Ask Lots of Questions

If you want your child to explore their inquisitive side, be a good role model and do the same thing! Ask plenty of thought-provoking questions, not only to demonstrate that curiosity is perfectly normal but also to encourage them to think deeply about seemingly everyday things.

For instance, you could say something like “Where do you think this rain has come from?” or “I wonder where these oranges were grown”. If someone asks a question that nobody knows the answers to, use it as an opportunity to research together. 

Encourage Your Child to Pursue their Interests

When a child is truly interested in something, they will naturally want to learn more about it. With that said, if your child has been asking questions about a certain topic, encourage them to pursue it as a hobby. Hobbies are a fantastic way for children to develop a range of key skills and continue their learning outside of school hours. 

Allow Healthy Discussions

It’s important for young people to know that it’s okay to have their own opinions, as long as they respect the opinions of others. Rather than shutting down debates in your home, allow them to happen so that your child learns to be curious about other people’s viewpoints.

In other words, it’s important for them to learn that there are two sides to every story and everyone has their own perspectives.