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One of the most wonderful things about children is that they’re natural curious about the world around them. There’s a lot going on, and most want to know more. If you feel like your child’s mostly focused inward, though, you may want to take steps to encourage that natural curiosity. Below are four activities that can really make a difference.
Go to Nature
Getting out in the natural world is a great way to get a child’s mind moving. Leave behind the technology and the distractions and spend a few hours out in the woods—or even a few days camping. Let your child discover the vast beauty of nature in a safe what that will make him or her really want to learn more about why the world works as it does.
Visit a Museum of Play
There are many excellent childrens’ museums out there, and the best of them put a strong focus on play. While children might think that they’re just getting a chance to play around, what they’re really doing is engaging with the world in a hands-on manner. Playing around in a stream table or building a fortress out of blocks may not seem like it’s constructive, but it’s teaching your child incredibly important lessons.
Check Out a Planetarium
Sometimes it takes spending a moment contemplating the vastness of the universe to really unlock a sense of wonder. There are spectacular planetarium shows in cities across the world, many of which are geared towards children. Giving your child a chance to look out at the vastness of space and to wonder what’s out there can be a good way to help him or her start to think about the world in a more engaging manner.
Visit a Historical Site
Sometimes a look at the past can really help a child to start asking “why”. Checking out a battlefield, an old building, or even a monument is a great way to talk to your child about the world as it was before he or she was born. Just getting exposed to the idea that things were not always as they are now can be a major turning point for some children, and this can lead them to really start interrogating their own worlds.
Getting your child to use his or her natural curiosity is really a matter of providing the right stimuli. Visit museums, planetariums, and historic sites to provide new points of view, and don’t forget to get out into nature to let your child explore. With the right stimuli, your child’s imagination will soar.