Why do children lose curiosity?
And how can the school get it back
Curiosity is the foundation of learning. It is a natural drive that makes a child ask questions, experiment, observe the world with wonder and passion. However, many parents and teachers notice that as children grow older, their curiosity often wanes. Why does this happen? What makes a child who once wanted to know "why the sky is blue" and "how a washing machine works" start to answer questions with a cursory "I don't know" or stop asking altogether?
School as a place of answers instead of questions
Curiosity is the foundation of learning. It is a natural drive that makes a child ask questions, experiment, observe the world with wonder and passion. However, many parents and teachers notice that as children grow older, their curiosity often wanes. Why does this happen? What makes a child who once wanted to know "why the sky is blue" and "how a washing machine works" start to answer questions with a cursory "I don't know" or stop asking altogether?
Standardization and testing
A system based on standardized tests often leaves no room for creative thinking and individual interests. Children learn "to the test," which kills their natural desire to explore and understand the world in their own way. Curiosity does not fit into the answer key.
Fear of failure
Children who fear making mistakes avoid risky questions. If the learning environment is not emotionally safe, the child stops experimenting and hides his or her doubts. Curiosity is associated with uncertainty – and uncertainty in school can be punished.
Curiosity is not a luxury - it's a child's right
