ABSTRACT
Children are born curious and ask hundreds of questions a day when they are very small. Babies play longer with toys that interest them. Adults ask questions about facts that intrigue them.
But children more or less stop asking questions when they get to school, not because they’ve run out of them but because there isn’t enough time for them to be answered. Teachers have to keep classes on track if pupils are to learn everything they need to pass tests and eventually exams. They can’t afford to be derailed by too many off-piste questions.
Yet curiosity is the linchpin of learning, the superhero skill that genuinely makes the difference in the real world. It motivates us to learn. The latest evidence tells us that children who are more curious than others do better at school even if they come from disadvantaged homes. That fact alone provides a lesson for social policy makers around the world to make time for genuine curiosity in the classroom. Meanwhile, parents who want their children to flourish have to keep answering those questions to keep the flame of curiosity burning brightly in their children.
