There’s a quote from the late comedian George Carlin that goes, “Don’t just teach your children to read. Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything.”

When we teach our children to ask questions, we’re also teaching them not to be afraid to be curious.  Although it might be tempting to shush a toddler who asks you questions after question (especially when you don’t know the answer, like why is the sky blue? More on that later.)  But a child who questions is a child who is engaged with the world and you don’t want to squelch that impulse.

Sure-fire ways to encourage your kid’s curiosity

There are ways to help foster intellectual curiosity in your kids from an early age. Examples include:

  • Travel with your kids. One mother I know makes a habit of taking weekend trips with her three sons—and has been doing so since they were babies! Although you might think it is too stressful on an baby or small child to take them away from their familiar surroundings, according to babycenter.com, a child as young as three months is a good candidate for travel, as long as the trip is low key (so you might want to hold off on that 24-hour flight to Australia!)
  • Discover what your child is passionate about—and help them pursue it as far as they can. Blogger Jessie Voigts, a global educator who runs the website WanderingEducators.com, writes, “If your child loves chocolate, visit chocolate museums. If your child is passionate about art, find art museums wherever you go. If your child loves racecars, attend races, find mentors, and learn more. Whatever their passion, you know it will lead you to cool places.”
  • Visit historical places together. Is your child learning about certain historical figures, events, or notable places in school or in the books you’re reading together? Bring that lesson to life with a trip to a history museum, the birthplace of a famous writer or political leader, or an historical landmark. When you actively seek out the places and people you read about in books, you take the lesson one step further—and encourage your child to look deeper.
  • Read to them every night. This suggestion may seem like a no-brainer, but in a society where even toddlers are using electronic devices, it’s important that you have a time each night when all devices are turned off and a book is opened and read. If a child asks you to read “The Six Bunnie-Wunnies Make Cookies”* (*Peanuts fans will recognize this reference) for the hundredth time, indulge them. According to babble.com, the repetition is comforting to children and helps them learn. They also learn to anticipate what comes next and enjoy pointing out to a drowsy parent when they’ve skipped a page!
  • Eat dinner together as a family. The Atlantic reported on a study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University that concluded, “children who eat dinner with their parents five or more days a week have less trouble with drugs and alcohol, eat healthier, show better academic performance, and report being closer with their parents than children who eat dinner with their parents less often.” The daily ritual, opportunity to discuss the day and current events, and just the act of sharing time together as a family each day can make a big impact on your kids—now and in the future.
  • Institute family game night. Traditional board games are popular again, and it’s a good thing. Games—particularly ones that challenge memory, encourage creativity, and/or teach strategy are not only a fun way for families to bond. They’re also stimulating your child’s brain and forcing him or her to think in new and innovative ways.
  • Don’t know an answer? Look it up! Earlier we discussed the young child who likes to ask every question under the sun—probably they ask about the sun, too!  While you may be tempted to give a non-answer like “because it just is!” resist that urge and take your child’s questions seriously. If you don’t know or aren’t entirely sure of the answer, Google it, search your family’s dictionary, or look it up at the library—but always search for the answer together. If you are in the middle of running out the door to get your older child to soccer practice, tell your little inquisitor you will make a note for the two of you to research the answer when you have a spare moment—then make sure you follow through.

When building intellectual curiosity in your child, start early

Building intellectual curiosity in your kids will serve them well throughout their lives—starting in their critical school years. A common criticism of some public school systems is that teachers are pressured to teach only the material that is going to be on standardized tests, and nothing more. An intellectually curious child will reject being spoon-fed just the facts and will actively seek answers to questions that other kids might not even know to ask.  They’re also more likely to look for answers outside of the classroom, like reading books on their own, visiting museums, and seeking out mentors.

Gladys Ruiz is the Director of Little Children Schoolhouse in Brookline, MA.  After more than 10 years working in Early Childhood Education, Gladys opened the Little Children Schoolhouse to provide a nurturing, loving environment—an extension of her student’s home and family life—in Brookline. Pre-K, Preschool and Daycare programs for toddlers and infants include extra activities, such as weekly music, yoga, cooking, science activities, and field trips.  Both full day and part-time enrollment are available.