The more curious they are, the more they learn. A child’s brain is like a sponge sucking up all the wonders of their environment, from the moment they start crawling to the time they’ll start asking those awkward questions that you’ll struggle to answer.
By stimulating your child’s natural curiosity, you help their brain develop. Here’s how you can stimulate them:
Be interested in the world around you
Children tend to copy what they see others doing. They will most likely model what you do, so take a walk in the neighbourhood with your little one so they can see you appreciating the natural environment. They’ll wonder and ask about the trees, the flowers, the birds and everything else they see.
Let them lead
As they grow into their developmental years, children will demand their autonomy by wanting to do things for themselves. They won’t want you to spoon-feed them (even though you’ll want make sure the food doesn’t end up all over their clothes or on the floor!), and it’s okay to let them do this. Encourage their natural interests. If they like to sing, sing along with them and try not to correct them too much. If they love butterflies or chasing dogs, buy them books on bugs and butterflies and maybe think about getting them that puppy.
No better place than the library
Visit the library. This is where geniuses are made, and you’ve got a little genius with an inquisitive mind, so the library is the best place to nurture this. All libraries have a children’s section that allows for activities that require the kids to be actively involved, and not just passively taking in information. Ask them open-ended questions (like ‘why’, ‘when’ and ‘how’) that require more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.
TIP Some libraries have an event called Pram Jam on Wednesdays. They read stories and have sing-a-long’s. It’s for ages from newborns until about three.
Images: Freepik