– Atishay Jain, Managing Partner, Koncept Global Books

Children are natural explorers. Spend a few moments with young children and you will hear a stream of questions about the world around them: How does water move? Why do onions make us cry? How can birds fly? These questions may sound simple, but they reveal something profound. Curiosity is not a small trait; it is one of the most powerful drivers of learning. When children ask questions, they are not just seeking answers, but meaning.

Raising a child who truly understands the world requires more than responding to questions. It means supporting a journey that begins with wonder and moves through curiosity, observation, imagination, exploration and, finally, questioning. The real challenge is not teaching children to ask questions, but ensuring they never stop.

The Spark of Curiosity: Curiosity is the starting point of all learning. It is a natural drive that pulls children towards the unknown. Whether watching ripples in a puddle or poking at a piece of moss, children are constantly testing ideas and building early mental models of the world. This spark builds confidence and fuels exploration. Parents play a crucial role here by encouraging interest rather than rushing past it, helping to keep that engine of curiosity running.

Before meaningful questions emerge, children must learn to observe. Observation is active noticing. A child watching a ladybird may study its spots, wings and movements, quietly collecting details. Parents can support this stage by slowing down, allowing time to look closely, and asking children what they notice. Strong observation provides the raw material for deeper thinking.

The Power of Imagination: Imagination follows observation. Children begin to connect what they have seen with what they think might be possible. Clouds become animals, tall buildings turn into dragon towers, and the sun might ‘sleep’ under the sea. These ideas may be inaccurate, but they are essential. Imagination allows children to form early theories and build creative bridges between experience and explanation.

Exploration is where thinking becomes physical. Children test their ideas by acting on them, often messily. Mixing paints, dropping objects or taking things apart are all ways of checking whether imagination matches reality. This hands-on experimentation helps children learn through evidence. Parents should encourage exploration, not avoid it, as it brings understanding closer.

Only after observing, imagining and exploring does a child arrive at a meaningful question. When a child asks why ice melts in their hand, they have already experienced and tested the phenomenon. The question is a search for clarity, not a starting point. It signals deep thinking and a desire to connect experiences into understanding.

How Parents Can Support the Process: To nurture this journey, adults must shift from simply giving answers to guiding thinking. Instead of responding immediately, parents can ask what the child has noticed or what they think might be happening. Providing time, space and materials for exploration is equally important. In the early school years especially, books and learning resources should invite inquiry, prediction and discussion, rather than passive consumption of facts.

When curiosity is protected and guided, children gain more than knowledge. They develop independence of thought and confidence in their ability to understand the world. Supporting this journey from curiosity to clarity is one of the greatest gifts we can offer a young mind.

Also Read: Every child is unique: recognising diversity in learning styles