Page 86 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2022

F O S T E R I N G C U R I O S I T Y story by Luke Height
Curious, inventive, creative, genius, spontaneous, fantastic, eccentric. These words are often associated with people in this world who blow our minds.
They’re the people who astonish folks like you and me, every single day.
Kids come into this world like a fresh canvas. They’re
blank, innocent, ignorant to the struggles of life and ready to explore. Like an early pioneer entering into a foreign land, they experience the world with eyes wide open. Not knowing anything or making comparisons, they see things for how they appear, feel, and how others react to them.
That’s what makes us so enamored by them. As adults, we see everything through a distorted lens. Our experiences, proclivities, and social groups make distinctions on everything we encounter. But kids? They touch the world, taste the fruit, hear the birds, laugh deeply, play, and love wholeheartedly.
Although we want our kids to grow up, we can agree there is something special about their curiosity. We know that Albert Einstein was surely curious when he developed the theory of relativity. He even went on to say, “I have no special talents.
I am only passionately curious.” Benjamin Franklin didn’t invent the bifocals or the lightning rod by lack of curiosity either. Even our modern innovators like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos keep a sense of curiosity that allows for them to wonder and continuously drive forward new ideas.
Kids do this all the time when they are playing, acting, or making up scenarios or imaginary friends. This curiosity is important for them to bring to the real world and we can help. Here are some tips on how to help your child foster their curiosity:
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Read before bed. Reading books to and with your kids before bed activates their imagination, enhances their comprehension and builds good habits.
Wonder aloud. When we say out loud, “I wonder why the lake is frozen,” we are modeling what it means to be curious.
Encourage natural interests. If your child is interested in painting, for example, then give them lots of different opportunities to paint.
Answer questions simply and clearly. No matter
the age, always ask your child first what their thoughts are before answering.
Use open-ended questions. Use who, what, when, where, why, and how to stimulate your child’s curiosity. Redirect versus discourage. Give your child an opportunity in a safe way to explore their interests. If it
is something unsafe, say houseplants, give them chances
to play in the dirt. If they like to pour water out of their cup, then move them to a tile floor or give them similar items to play with outside or in the bathtub to have similar experiences.
Have open-ended material available. When we give children items to play with like blocks, water, sand, pots and any art material, we are giving them the chance to use their curiosity about how to play with the item. Many store-bought toys can only be used in one way and do not challenge the child to figure out a way to play with it on their own.
By fostering our children’s curiosity, we aid them in enhancing their genius. That curiosity will help them make a great invention, discover something
new, explore the world and become the best version of themselves. Use these tips to help your kids become a modern day genius!
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