Children are born with natural curiosity; it is something that is ingrained in our DNA. By being inquisitive about the world we came in, we learn about it and adjust to it. Hence, it is natural that children are most inquisitive when they are in the formative years, that is between the age of 3 to 5. As a parent or as an educator in a Montessori La Canada Flintridge, CA, you have to deal with such inquisitive children all day long. To help you out, here are some tips on how to handle them in a way that is not detrimental to their development and not frustrating for you!

First and foremost, especially if you are the parent, don’t ever ask an inquisitive child to shut up. It is the worst you can do to their self-confidence and capacity to absorb new knowledge. It can be hard for the parent or the teacher who has to deal with thousand things every day but holding on to little patience in front of an inquisitive child will be fruitful later. A child that is often scolded for asking too many questions grows up with anxiety and insecurity. They are afraid to ask questions even when it is needed. So, never ever rudely dismiss a child’s question.

That being said, there should be a boundary between being inquisitive and being nosey. The former is to be appreciated while you need to curb the second habit. To do that, you have to set up a boundary between what they can ask and what they can’t. He or she should be taught that while asking about how a thing work is fine but asking about something not related to him is being nosey.

The boundary above should also be enforced at home. Make sure that you talk to your children that when the parents are talking about “adult” things, they are not supposed to ask a question about it. When you and your spouse are having a conversation, never let a child intrude into it with a question about what you are discussing. Set this as early as possible and your child will never become a nosey child, but an inquisitive one.

When a child is curious about something, don’t stop just after answering the question he asked. Encourage him or her to ask more so that their natural curiosity helps them to understand something better. For example, if a child asked, “Why does it rain”, you could explain the rain cycle (in an age-appropriate manner) but don’t explain the various states of water. By doing that, you will encourage the child to learn more and ask relevant questions. Such a skill set will also help the child when he goes from a Montessori in La Canada Flintridge, CA to grade schools.

Don’t wait for the child to always ask the question; when you have answered some of them, pick his or her brain by asking him/her about the topic you just discuss. The answer the children come up with will often amaze you regarding the creative mind of little ones.