Curiosity drives learning, especially for toddlers. With 40,000 questions between ages 2-5, their inquiries help shape how they understand the world around them.
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” - Albert Einstein
Key Concepts:
- From ages 2 to 5, children ask a lot of questions (approximately 40,000, if you can believe it!)
- Asking questions is a way for children to be little scientists. When they ask a question, they are testing hypotheses and tweaking their theories for how the world works.
- Toddlers ask questions to show and explore their curiosity. By asking questions, they move to the next layer of information.
- Has your child ever asked an embarrassing question in a public space? This happens! Toddlers are constantly noticing and making sense of what is the same and what is different, which can lead to some pretty uncomfortable observations about body type, race, disability, etc.
- Note: Try to handle these questions calmly, even if they make you cringe. You can say, “Let’s discuss that later” instead of “We don’t say that!”
What to Try:
- Ask questions back to your child. Try saying, “why do you think?” This shows your child you're taking their curiosity seriously, helps you understand what your child is thinking and what information they're looking for, and gives you time to think about your response. Encouraging curiosity is more valuable than making sure they have the "correct" answers.
- “Why is the grass green?” “Why do you think, buddy?” “Because I painted it with my magic wand and green is my favorite color!” “I love your imagination!”
- Admitting that you don't have an answer isn’t only okay, it’s encouraged. Make it an opportunity to learn together.
- When you don't have time to dig into their questions in the moment, it's okay to say, “I can’t answer questions right now because I am busy, but I hear you and I will answer later.”