{"id":1198,"date":"2025-04-22T08:22:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T08:22:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/?p=1198"},"modified":"2025-04-22T08:22:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T08:22:14","slug":"by-kristine-busa-educator-at-preschool-creakids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/dialogue\/by-kristine-busa-educator-at-preschool-creakids\/","title":{"rendered":"By Krist\u012bne Bu\u0161a, educator at preschool \u201cCreaKids\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How to Encourage Children’s Natural Curiosity: Simple Things to Implement in Preschool or at Home<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To spark the curiosity, engagement, and desire to learn in preschool-aged children\u2014as well as to help them better retain what they\u2019ve learned\u2014it\u2019s important to involve them right from the planning stage of activities. Coming up with and planning activities together, creating games from simple materials, building paper houses or spaceships\u2014all of this can be done both in preschool and at home. The key is to remember that children learn through play, movement, and hands-on activities\u2014almost any topic can become a full-blown project that kids will joyfully dive into.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Learning About Space to Building a Play Spaceship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When planning the monthly learning topics, I always try to involve the children. Of course, the preschool already has a base plan, but discussing the topics with the children allows us to expand on ideas and increase their motivation to participate. Once we agree that we\u2019ll be learning about space, their attitude usually becomes more enthusiastic. It\u2019s also important to listen to the children when thinking of specific tasks and activities. For example, when we started exploring the space theme, I noticed how interested the kids were, so I encouraged them to continue exploring. We decided together to build our own cardboard spaceship, and the parents also got involved in making it happen. Some had space books at home, others brought lights to illuminate the spaceship, and so on. From one learning theme, an entire project emerged that the children participated in with shining eyes. While building the play spaceship, they learned about space, planets, and other complex topics. And they did it together, which also helped them develop important collaboration and communication skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning Happens in Museums and on Field Trips Too<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though it\u2019s possible to explain the main points of any learning topic fairly quickly with images and information, it\u2019s definitely worth investing more time and energy to nurture children\u2019s curiosity. Encourage them to ask questions, search for answers together\u2014not just in books but also by visiting museums and going on field trips. This helps them build other life skills at the same time. Ideally, the learning process extends beyond preschool walls, with parents getting involved too. For instance, if a child becomes interested in space, maybe it\u2019s worth getting a relevant book or game at home, or going together to a museum or exhibit on the topic. Every child has a spark of curiosity\u2014what matters most is that we, as adults, notice it and help it grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making Learning \u201cTangible\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For preschoolers, it\u2019s important that the learning process is tangible. That\u2019s why it\u2019s best to introduce new concepts through hands-on experiences\u2014by playing, building, creating, etc. For example, we\u2019ve built not only the spaceship but also a little hut out of egg cartons, or a bingo game using chestnuts. Fun, engaging projects don\u2019t always need special resources or materials\u2014many things can be made from simple, everyday items. In fact, these seemingly basic things often spark more interest in children than shiny, store-bought toys. For instance, our chestnut bingo game or tic-tac-toe made from stones are among the most loved activities in our group. Children choose them often, even though homemade games aren\u2019t always as neat or polished as store-bought ones. But they are made by their own hands, and that makes them extra special and loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Games While Driving or Waiting in Line<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When thinking about how to support children\u2019s natural curiosity, it\u2019s important to remember that some of the most valuable learning moments happen in everyday situations. Often, you don\u2019t need any special materials or toys\u2014much can be done without them. The main thing is to give the child a chance to take part, express their opinion, and feel valued. There are many small daily games you can play with children\u2014for example, while driving or waiting in line. \u201cI spy with my little eye,\u201d \u201cThink of words that start with a certain letter,\u201d \u201cLet\u2019s count the red cars,\u201d or \u201cGuess the animal I\u2019m thinking of\u201d\u2014these seemingly simple moments help build observation, thinking, communication, and even learning skills, all without textbooks. And often, these games become cherished times that children associate with positive emotions and togetherness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Approach That Inspires Learning and Discovery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, our group at \u201cCreaKids\u201d is working on a new project\u2014building a birdhouse together with the children. Again, the focus isn\u2019t on the object itself, but on the process\u2014working together, exploring the topic, getting involved, and doing research. When a child helps build the birdhouse, they become much more interested in going out into nature to observe what happens with it\u2014whether any birds live there, what they look like, what they eat, and so on. Learning happens through experience, sensations, and participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although this kind of approach and these activities require time and effort from both educators and parents\u2014and sometimes a willingness to go beyond traditional boundaries\u2014they offer the greatest reward. Children learn best when their eyes light up with excitement. And for that to happen, adults need to feel that spark too\u2014for their work, for the children, and for their growth. That\u2019s how true inspiration is born, leading to a meaningful, dynamic, and truly engaging learning process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How to Encourage Children’s Natural Curiosity: Simple Things to Implement in Preschool or at Home To spark the curiosity, engagement,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1198"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1198"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1199,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1198\/revisions\/1199"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}