Love of Learning + Curiosity
Curiosity… it is an essential ingredient in wanting to learn. Ask almost any educator, and they’ll agree that students who do well in school tend to be the ones who have curiosity in spades. What exactly is curiosity? It is being inquisitive - both a seeking and an exploration. Curiosity is active; not always about “finding an answer”, but examining and delving into the heart of something.
Albert Einstein said, “I am neither clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious.” Although the Internet has made portals of extensive information available instantly, it also has the power to rob us of a quality that is unique to humans — deep curiosity.
Our innate desire to explore new ideas and wonder about possibilities is something that should be nurtured.
Here are some ideas.
Be passionate. When parents share their experiences and areas of interest with their children, they become excited about learning and exploring more. Stories about real life experiences are tantalizing for kids.
Explore your world. It’s one thing to talk about how caterpillars turn into butterflies, but seeing it happen is a different experience altogether. Some of my fondest memories are hiking with my father – choosing our walking sticks, checking out tadpoles growing into frogs, and getting lost on our way back and having to find our way! ( And we didn’t even have smartphones to help navigate.
Make learning fun. Homework can be repetitive and boring for kids “on paper”. I love to make flash cards with my students, and hiding them for them to find on mini treasure-hunts. You can also try sight word bingo, or having your child spell words while playing handball.
Enjoy – and stay curious!