Asking questions and answering questions is imperative for cultivating curiosity, but sometimes we need to go a bit further. Sometimes we need to stop, drop, and roll with discovery.
This starts with me. This starts with you. We must make the deliberate decision to allow our children to make discoveries on their own.
I love avocados. Not that you care. But I do. I was harvesting the fruit from one a few weeks ago when Simon piped up, "Mom, what happens if we plant that big thing?"
And right there. In that second. I had a choice.
Choice #1: Squash Discovery and Wonder
I could explain that it's a seed, toss the pit in the trash, start conquering the housework, and send him out to play.
Choice #2: Foster Discovery and Wonder
I could ask questions leading to more wonder and leading to Simon discovering the answer for himself: What do you think it is? Would you like to plant it and find out what happens?
I did ask Simon those questions that day. I got a big nod. A big smile. It was a big plan for a little kid.
Do you think I genuinely wanted to plant an avocado seed? Part of me did. But most of me wanted to dump it in the compost heap and be done with it. I easily could have spouted out the answer to my son's question: It makes a tree. They don't grow in our cold climate. Would you like some guacamole?
But sometimes answering the question isn't enough. We have to be willing to drop what we're doing; grab moments like this; and say hey, I could really cultivate some curiosity right now. And then do it even when it's a little bit harder or a little bit messier. Let them investigate, wonder, and discover.
Because discovery leads to more curiosity.
I know that great, interesting, and valuable discoveries can be made and will be made . . . and I am awaiting them, full of curiosity and enthusiam. -Linus Pauling
great work, great reminder
Well said! We had a pet snail all last week for exactly the same reason…and a carrot top in the windowsill. There is a thread right now on a yahoo group where a mom is wondering how to get her older boys to be curious and pursue their interests. It all starts with little moments like your avacado seed!
We had two pet snails last year–Slimy and Pinky! 🙂 I forgot about those two. 🙂 Carrot tops are fun, too! Enjoy your little moments! 🙂
Thank you for being so honest and saying you would rather throw it in the compost. There are days, I just need to have my own curiosity cultivated…homeschooling has helped that, but it is so easy to go back and be ‘dull’ me!
Wow – I would have thrown it out…. I think. I am getting better about cultivating curiosity but I have a long way to go.
Very cool.