Toddlers are naturally curious about, well, everything. From why the sky is blue, to why they have to wear shoes outside, to why vegetables are important to eat, every parent knows that a toddler’s favorite question is “why?” Developmentally, it makes sense. The first few years of children’s lives are all about exploring the world around them and understanding their own place in it. As toddlers, they’re beginning to make sense of the world; they’re finding connections, expanding their vocabulary, learning cause and effect, developing conversational skills, and beginning to learn critical thinking skills. Every activity, conversation, and interaction is a chance for kids to learn, and it’s important to encourage them to continue to be curious. Here are some great ways to raise an inquisitive, learning-obsessed child:
Expose Them to Big Topics, Like Space and Animals.
Encourage Asking Questions.
Telling kids that they can (and should) ask questions is a great start, but kids often need more direct examples. Copperstone says, “If you want kids to think critically and ask questions, you have to model how to ask questions. They don’t innately know how to ask questions.” In addition to asking kids questions when they’re playing, Copperstone suggests engaging in self-talk to show kids what kinds of questions they can ask. She explains, “For example, if we’re doing a whole group activity and we’re going to explore a pumpkin, I’m going to verbally self talk: I wonder what’s inside of a pumpkin; I wonder why a pumpkin is orange; I wonder why it’s hard on the outside and I wonder if it’s still hard on the inside; I wonder why the stem is spiky and what the stem looks like before you pick it.” When kids do ask questions, encourage them to keep going and dig deeper. This kind of curiosity makes learning more exciting for little ones.
