This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »
How should kids curiosity be handled optimally ?
Kids have the instinct power of curiosity. This makes them more creative and also enables them to shake up status quo with some brilliant questions. The way we answer to their questions can be counter productive to their curiosity. Please find the thread below lot of thoughts from TED-sters.
http://www.ted.com/conversations/1535/why_kids_lose_curiosity_in_the.html
Even not being a parent, many times we face (I faced a number of time) questions from kids which are very difficult to answer or even we adults are unable to answer because we just don't know the answer.
Some other time we are so time poor that we don't have enough time to handle those questions so just try to escape by saying something which might not be convincing at all i.e. "Once you grow up you will know" kind of thing without admitting our limitation. Is that right ?
We also try to impose our believes in them through our answers which not all the time is right one.
Worst thing we also do are something like , "Don't talk much", "Keep Quiet", "Don't be silly" etc etc
Now my question to what should be the best way of handling kids enormous curiousity so that we don't kill their curiosity , neither we limit their potential with our own beliefs ?
The answer will be of great help because KIDs are our future.
Paul van Zoggel
curious 1 : Kids start with (1) empathy, they feel with others, they mirror others, thus curious to others.
curious 2 : Than (2) compassion kicks in, they have been pleased for years with all kinds of love, care and realize they are able to also give care and love to others, as they do on the playground. They are curious what their effect on others is, just passing on experience.
curious 3 : self esteem kicks in as they are also confronted with things they do not like (bullies, food, questions, tasks) so they are curious how to manipulate things to get their way and also to deal with bullies etc.
All 3 curiosities are naturally developing, and remain in school breaks developing, do are absent in the 7 hours sitting down in school.
So if we can embed these 3 developments more into school curricula, their natural curiosity stays alive on topics going beond the sandbox and playground.
Salim Solaiman 50+
Yesthe challenge is not only to incorporate those elements in school only but as whole society, as society starts imposing it's norms and belief on kids after certain age which may become counter productive to kids instinct curiosity.
Paul van Zoggel
Children and (should be) leaders are open for insights. The grownup in the middle are and should keep the system going, it is as big as a responsibility as getting education right and helping leaders with insight. About children/education we have a lot of talk on TEDc, which means we are really concerned and care.
To get to the 'whole society' ; On leaders, we look 'up' to them, and that is false. They are lonely at the top though can't be. A leader becomes a leader because he/she is passionate about solving a challenge. Once he/she crowdsurfed to the top, all these hands carying her/him to the crown, having the position to have impact, a lot of leaders are not able to cope. They do not admit publicly as they are their employees and peoples hope, but they suffer from great brainfreeze like athletes do when they have to much stress. This brainfreeze is really in the brain, so nobody notices. At the same time the on going system needs to be run, taking all the time 'away' from the leader.
Therefore having political parties and presidents and directors of companies in pyramid shape is not the future for change. Netcentric leadership should come in place. Just like in school, the teacher should not be only at the top as he/she cannot be the all knowing oracle any longer.
To wrap up; childrens curiosity can be enhanced by liberating the schoolsystem 50% from 'lectures'. And to change a whole society as you put it, (should be) leaders should be 50% liberated to have time and space to be as curious as they once were starting a political or corporate career, as basically they are being fulltime 'lectured' as well.
Bernd Fesel 30+
"arts for education" is a means to increase curiosity and creativity - from the authentic view of the children, emancipating themselves from pre-thought concepts of the adult teachers. "The event was made authentic by those who were concerned – they were present and an active part of it: 100 pupils from 33 European countries and Israel represented the target group and at the same time were part of the organisation of the conference. They took the symposium by storm, they sang on the stage, they ran through the audience, they danced between the seats and embraced one another." We did a great film (english subtitles) on the event: http://tinyurl.com/3m47jal
I hope this helps also to find solutions for the misery Ken Robinson descriped. He is my favorite speaker anyway.
Salim Solaiman 50+
Checked the link , it's interesting. Just wondering in your next initiative whether you can include kids starting from say 4-5 years of age.
Bernd Fesel 30+
Paul van Zoggel
Salim Solaiman 50+
Thanks for your ineterst about my country. It's actually difficult to give a generalised answer to your question because of existing vast disparity of wealth distribution which impacts even the education system.
Say vast majority of village students go to the government school (poor infra structure and teaching staffs) at pretty older age e.g. at the age 6-7 years of age, and parents mostly send them to school as government supported by aid agencies giving food f kids go to school , specially for girls. So main thing they get from parents be regular to school, study to pass so you are in school , even than drop out rate is high.In urban areas kids of lower middle class to certain extent of middle class try to get into again in national curriculum but good govt schools, here getting an admission is highly competetive , so at an early age parents make them prepare to succeed in admission war. So they learn it's number game and win and loose game , that I am very disappointed about , as that early age kids are open to a tough competition , which is killer to their curiosity and creativity .
In urban upper middle class and above kids go to international school at very early age, so parents main worry whether kid can socialize or not as they come from micro familiy unit and are not regularly exposed to others kids until they go to school. So main tips they get is to be freindly to other kid and tecahers.
In a nut shell this is scenario.
Paul van Zoggel
Salim Solaiman 50+
Where are your posts?
May I know why you deleted those important posts?
Is it me or any my act here in TED made you to decide to step out of my discussion erasing your step behind ?
Please tell me , if so I need to learn from my mistakes.
Or it's something else ?
Debra Smith 200+
Salim Solaiman 50+
Thanks my friend, I will do so.
Salim Solaiman 50+
I tried numbers of time to email Jaimie and got message that my message couldn't be sent.
What's going on TED?
May be all these above post will get deleted being so called "Off Topic"!!!
Salim Solaiman 50+
Paul van Zoggel
think of it that some people see this as 'bartalk'. The most creative intelligent discussions take place in the pub. You will remember what is useful :) Or need to make own notes..
I also wished I wrote some of Jaime's notes down on the back of a beverage coaster
Salim Solaiman 50+
Thanks for thoughts about 'bar talk' . Can't agree more.
You know in my country bars are not allowed so the place is taken by Tea Shops. To me so far best creative generation in art , literature , social, philosophical thoughts of my country is in the hands of a group of people of generation 60s & 70s (indicating the time when their creative works and thoughts flourished). In terms so called university education they were back benchers or never went there. But their regular endless exchange of thoughts used to happen in a tea stall in their early as well as middle age and they are still leading those fields.
I love bar talk may be my hidden desire to be creative which I am yet to be. But will not give though now a days busy due to other necessity of life.
Paul van Zoggel
A lot is written the tea house should find it's way back in society, probably first virtual like on TED. Later real meetingplaces... who knows ..
Salim Solaiman 50+
Bar house due to cultural reason became tea house in my country while in Cairo it's Coffee cum Shisha house...........
About TED now I am skeptic.
Well, Paul what is your thoughts of having similar virtual kind of shop for KIDs ?
Paul van Zoggel
I believe we should only let them experience "The Matrix", parents/teachers abserve, though let them play and so develop their brain. To discover the matrix is a quest for every child and 'AppleJuice Houses" should exist online and in reality for that.
Comment deleted
Salim Solaiman 50+
I always wonder about the challenges of questions Kids come up with all their curiosity from their "amazing world".
Adriana Camarena
Salim Solaiman 50+
Agreed hand holding all the time is not the way as it can be the barrier to be their ownself.
Thanks for your good thoughts . Would love to hear more from you.
Paul van Zoggel
So we need to find a way we can address their questions. So their truth in following passion is not disrupted. So how in practice? Let's give answers To Ken Robinson his calling.
Debra Smith 200+
Every question that goes unanswered is a step toward the extinction of the abilty to be curious.
Salim Solaiman 50+
I share the same worry incapabillity that's why opened up discussion to learn from collective wisdom and intelligence.
I want our future generation remain curious and ceative as long as they can for the overall betterment humankind and nature.
Paul van Zoggel
If we only teach our children what we know, then they can only do as bad as we do. (Gunter Pauli)
Salim Solaiman 50+
You know as Kid I used to hear a rhyme from my mom , which still echos in my head. It's kiddie rhyme with kiddie questions of a kid to his Mom......... which are as below (trying to translate the main meaning only)
Mom , hey Mom , can I get your answer
Why it's so black so dark night?
From where sun gets, lights so bright ?
Many colours dancing on flower
Leaves stayed green........
and so on .......... (sorry unable to translate whole right now)
Answer was there in that rhyme
can you guess the answer Paul ?
Paul van Zoggel
@ Salim ; Am lost in translation I think; because the sun does not shine around the corner?
Julie Ann 10+
Schools are designed (supposedly) for knowledge and if a teacher does not have an answer, he/she should be able to say "I don't know, let's go find out". Unfortunately schools are not structured for spontaneity or creativity.
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
For questions that cannot be answered due to time; have them write those questions down, compile them and nit pick the most challenging questions for the following day (try to have all children's questions read over time as to feel as a participator). OR Dictate children to write down their questions, so you can get through the material as quick as possible and have ample time to read their questions and focus on them. Tell children to not repeat questions and to always be thinking about their own questions, as this will speed up the process.
For questions that are difficult for you the educator: I do not know your budget, but any source of internet will allow search engines; nearly infinite answers to be search, some specific for children. Usually schools give a computer per classroom depending on area of world. If this is not the case, for those questions you do not know, give a few points extra credit for them to do research on their own and to give a short presentation on the answer and question. (Public speaking skills + research practicing + peer learning)
"Worst thing we also do are something like , "Don't talk much", "Keep Quiet", "Don't be silly" etc etc"
I agree. I would like to note though, "rewarding" can be just as damaging as ordering a child to behave a certain way. The reward should be peeking curiosity and having fun doing so, that is incredibly difficult in academia. Possibly the most challenging thing to consider is "how to not reward while keeping interest high" What does anyone think about that? Any tips or ideas on how to not reward while keep interest high?
I would say rebuild the entire education system to match all the ways in which kids learn. Only a few are able to memorize efficiently leaving the rest who can't hating education altogether
Paul van Zoggel
The first generation of children are born now..now.. and now having an iPad when they are born. We just need to make the killer environments for them by the time they enter school. In short; it will save the teachers time on the boring stuff and they can focus on guiding the kids on what is important and can't be squuezed in a robot (ipad)
Debra Smith 200+
Salim Solaiman 50+
Yes sometimes I say them "let's find the answer from internet "....or " let me see whether you can find answer from the books in home".
That works well at times once they get it they come out so jubillant !
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
I was only responding the to the points of "how to not stop questioning" because I have considered that a lot! It is difficult, again, in the current academia so educators have to work around that, so do so.
Truly parents should be more of the information sources than most people (including myself) make teachers out to be. I mean that by, parents need to not only encourage asking questions from their kids but be happy to answer them!
Debra Smith 200+
Salim Solaiman 50+
Agree with you what you told.
Having 2 curious kids who challenge me often with bombshell questions many a times I answered "I really don't know , you can find out yourself once". They love to hear my kid time stories, I try not to porject me as a super kid , tell them my failures as kid , though in my culture all mums and dads were "First in Class" and Best of Their Time" so worry whether they feel inferior or not.......
Other point is that don't know what they hear from others around because they ask questions not only to me but also to everyone they come across. I am away from them now for sometime so worry more as don't want that if their beautiful cuiosity is killed by some dumb answers..............
Debra Smith 200+
Even in cases of terrible abuse the stories of overcoming show us that even ONE person who believed in the child is enough to help them surmount it ---- so a bit of bad advice is not going to crush them- but it will help them know who to trust and what to trust.
Debra Smith 200+
This is really your area and Adriana's area of expertise given that you have established the Asombratorium. I hope the two of you will share more insights because Salim is an earnest learner too and he still has small children.
I loved Adriana's point below that we should be encouraging iniquiry rather than just curiosity. The two of you use words so precisely and i am enjoying the reminder of the power of the right word. It is no accident that your grand daughter's name is SOPHIA!
Salim Solaiman 50+
Muhammad Aizat Zainal Alam 30+
Salim Solaiman 50+
Kids ask question as they want to know.......they observe , they wonder, they ponder, they ask questions ......... they are like sponge just want to suck every bit of knowledge arround them through asking questions that's their instinct.
Muhammad Afif Idris
Salim Solaiman 50+
Thanks for your thoughts.
Well , I am really not in favour of controlling kids through restriction (that's what society is doing all the time) and that's the killer of kids curiosity.
Do we adults really know what is right and wrong ? What is appropriate & inappropriate really. Are not those things very very relative to time , space and person?
Comment deleted
Salim Solaiman 50+
Here I intentionally used to be in line with my friend Idris.
Yeap "Limit" is a much better word. Thanks :)