Children always have their thinking caps turned on, asking questions that often leave us puzzled. It’s a good skill to have and one that should be nurtured as it is how we learn and develop. If you’ve got an inquisitive child or would like to stretch their curiosity, here are 7 activities to try from St Hilda’s Harpenden.
Serve Them Riddles
If you’re looking for something to keep your child occupied for a while, set them a riddle. It will get their little cogs turning and thinking in new and abstract ways as riddles are designed to do.
Go On a Family Outing
Whether it’s just to the park or a museum, going out can help children to think of new questions about the world around them and learn more about it.
Ask Them Questions
Instead of waiting for them to come to you, why not set your child daily challenges? Ask them questions and give them the day to research and gather their findings to relay back to you. They’ll build on their problem-solving and research skills while gaining more general knowledge.
Be Truthful
If you’re hit with a curveball and don’t know the answer to one of their questions, it’s okay. It gives you the opportunity to find the answer together. Lying to them and making something up on the spot is what you want to avoid as it can compromise their trust in you and only confuse them when they learn the truth.
Read Together
Reading is an essential part of school and is needed for everyday life. By helping your child with their reading, you can give them the ability to challenge things, carry out their own learning, and introduce them to more new material that spurs their curiosity even further.
Engaging in shared reading and storytelling creates a profound bond between parents and children, fostering a connection that transcends the pages of a book. As a parent reads to their child, the act of storytelling becomes a gateway to mutual exploration and discovery. For the child, it opens realms of imagination, enhances language skills, and instills a love for learning. Simultaneously, the parent experiences the joy of witnessing their child’s intellectual and emotional growth, while the shared narratives become cherished moments that strengthen the parent-child relationship. Through the magic of storytelling, both parent and child embark on a shared journey of learning, empathy, and lasting memories. For some inspiration and unique stories, try Naratopia as a starting point on your reading journey as a family. Remember, children are never too young for stories.
Acknowledgment
After a while, all of the random questions can start to get annoying, but they are no less important and should not be ignored. This can make them feel as though they are a nuisance and suppress their curiosity.
Question Their Decisions
This doesn’t have to just be external. You can quiz your child about themselves which can help them to dig deeper and learn about who they are. You can ask them questions about their decisions, thoughts, and opinions.
Disclosure: collaborative post
Thank you for reading - if you enjoyed this content, please consider buying me a coffee here or browse my Amazon wishlist I really appreciate your support and it helps to keep the site running and for my time 🙂