^{Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash}

Curiosity is the key to success. But for an inquisitive child, this often only means questioning anything, even the most straightforward and obvious matters.

What does the moon look like?

Why is the sky blue?

Why… What…

These are some of the words that repeatedly come out of every inquisitive child. Children seem to have unlimited curiosities, never running out of questions and always looking at the world with wonder. Looking around, their eyes typically sparkle in awe. What’s mundane to adults is among the most fascinating to children. But this comes with no surprise. After all, they haven’t been around for long. Hence, their surroundings are mostly filled with foreign things they can’t help but question about.

Curiosity Is Second-Nature To Children

Children are curious, born with wonder already instilled in their minds.

Perhaps this is because of their age and the world’s novelty from their perspective, but children are brimming with questions. This allows them to grow with experience as they explore the paths around them. Their inquisitiveness shines through subtle patterns and gestures when they’re only months old. Although they don’t verbalize their wonder, they express this by grasping around their surroundings and learning about their environment without activated consciousness.

People are reminded of the importance of children’s curiosity in Franklin the Fearless and His Greatest Treasure, a Thomas and Matthew adventure written by Patrick Pickett. The book shows readers, especially adults, how a child’s mind works and what fuels their wonderment of the world. As a tale of imagination and friendship, Franklin the Fearless perfectly captures the essence of childhood and how naturally curious children are to what surrounds them.

It’s fascinating seeing an inquisitive child eager to know about the world. Seeing their eyes glisten is indeed heartwarming to any adult. It serves as a reminder of how they had been in the past, a look back to how they were once filled with fascination with the world that now drowns them with pressure.

But as much as adults would love to fulfill their interests, regardless of how relatable a child’s wonder is, they may often feel limited and restricted to help.

Nurturing The Mind Of An Inquisitive Child

Adults can be stringent with their time and burnt out of their energy. Hence, an inquisitive child may often be annoying more than adorable. At times, the constant inquiry may feel like a continuous buzz, distracting to an adult’s routine. Instead of answering wholeheartedly and genuinely, they may brush them off to get back to their tasks.

Obviously, this isn’t the proper approach. Adults should be the least patient in front of a curious mind and encourage this curiosity by helping them discover the world. An inquisitive child is a crucial link to society’s growth; building on this curiosity is every adult’s responsibility. Encouraging an inquisitive child is as easy as letting them be and not restricting their activities to what adults believe is safe within their bounds. This way, opportunities to wonder aren’t shunned, and adults can intentionally support and reinforce this nature in children.

Practice The Five W’s

A child’s fascination is the primary key to fueling their curiosity. When they observe something foreign to their experiences, they question themselves and those around them. This cycle is what fosters their interest to develop and be satisfied. When adults allow children to roam around and have freedom in their activities, they encourage them to be observant and welcome the world’s novelties, stimulating their interests.

From an adult’s perspective, the world may be filled with mundanities. But these are entirely new to children. They are more observant and intentional with their interactions. This allows them to enjoy every experience in a new light. Adults may believe the world can be dangerous to a child’s naïve steps, but these risks are necessary (although should be regulated) to develop a child’s curiosity.

To practice the five W’s, children should be exposed to the world’s wonder. This allows them to experience the world deeper, with profound intentions. When exposed to this rawness, they’re encouraged to wonder aloud and ask the critical questions: who, where, what, when, and why. They indulge in these curiosities and search for answers the adults can guide them.