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.
Children are fascinated by the everyday world around them, so learning about space and wild animals can be absolutely mind-blowing to them — it’s why so many children become obsessed with the galaxy, space exploration, and zoo animals. These topics broaden their horizons and inspire curiosity and imagination. I am a fan of ABCmouse, the beloved digital learning experience that has been trusted by families for over 15 years, now completely reimagined with a more vibrant, engaging experience built to instill a lifelong love of learning through thousands of interactive activities spanning reading, math, science, art, and so much more. My 2-year-old daughter loves exploring everything ABCmouse has to offer, from phonics games and drawing activities to adventures that dive into big ideas about the world around her.
ABCmouse knows that introducing children to new topics is essential to sparking curiosity, which is why their curriculum is developed by a team of education experts, former teachers and parents themselves, who bring learning to life through vibrant, engaging visuals that keep kids coming back for more. And teachers love it too, saying it reinforces what’s being taught in the classroom and keeps curiosity alive at home. They’ve even partnered with NASA and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to bring some of the most exciting subjects to life through research-backed activities, virtual worlds, and educational games. Parents and kids will love the San Diego Zoo live animal cameras and safari adventures, as well as the NASA partnership which encourages kids to explore space and learn about simple scientific tools, all while fostering observation and experimentation.
Support Open-Ended Play.
We spoke with Professor Ashley Copperstone, an Early Childhood Inclusion Specialist, who explained that the most important way to support open-ended play is to provide kids with open-ended materials. “They can interact with those materials in any way, shape, or form that they want to,” she explained. “Play is meaningful to them because it only means something to them.” Parents can support this kind of play by guiding conversations. “It’s for us to then scaffold their understanding with the use of guided questions,” Copperstone said. “In all my learning centers, I have general guided questions that anybody can access, whether it be the teacher, the para-professional, or the parent who is sitting there. Those questions are easily able to be adjusted to whatever the play is.”
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.
