How Homeschooling Parents Can Use Curiosity

Creativity and Homeschooling
Curiosity as a Gateway to Learning
How Homeschooling Parents can use Curiosity as a Gateway to Learning

Mom! Look at this beautiful butterfly! Where did it come from? Can it hurt me? What does it eat? Can I touch it? These were questions that came fast and furious from my young daughter the first year we planted our butterfly garden. Although I could not answer every question as thoroughly as she would have liked, those questions became the kick-off for a detailed homeschool study of butterflies. We hit the library, looked up many different species on the Internet, purchased a few larvae and watched them go through all of the stages of metamorphosis and even caught a huge caterpillar that looked as though it came right out of the movie Bug’s Life.

Despite the craziness that can sometimes occur in a homeschooling environment, take the time to allow for curiosity

Now, that was a project! We fed that caterpillar everyday and could even hear it chewing on the leaves all the way across the kitchen. It finally cocooned in late September and never emerged. All winter we waited. We waited the following spring. And just as we were ready to give up, we watched as a huge, brilliantly colored Circopia Moth emerged. Now, my daughter can tell you just about everything you could possibly want to know about caterpillars and butterflies and it wasn t even part of our homeschool curriculum!

For young children, curiosity is as much a part of how they function each day as breathing. In fact, curiosity is essential to their understanding of the what, why and how of life. It doesn t matter what grabs their attention. For some, it might be the fire truck parked outside of the local fire station; for others, it may be how a radio is put together; others can t wait to figure out how to make a cake; and still others may be fascinated by the groundhog that is digging holes in your lawn. Don t worry about what they are curious about capitalize on it. Homeschooling gives you the opportunity to do so seize that opportunity!

Give your children the freedom to explore the questions that naturally arise from this innate curiosity. Rather than simply explaining it to them, guide them to the right sources and let them find the answers. This is one of the beauties of homeschooling! By encouraging them to try to answer their own questions, you are encouraging their creativity, their thinking skills, their confidence in themselves all essential skills for life.

As they grow, your children will begin to wonder about life and death, war, fighting and the other bigger issues of life. Rather than simply answering their questions, ask them what they think. Then answer their questions as honestly as possible. If you don t have an answer, tell them, then work together to find the right answers. This kind of honesty sets the stage for more weighty discussions later in life, and the dialogue you establish now will encourage openness and trust.

Bottom line: Despite the craziness that can sometimes occur in a homeschooling environment, take the time to allow for curiosity. Create a safe environment for exploration and discussion and find ways to demonstrate curiosity. Exploring information together can be a terrific bonding experience as well as a gateway to learning.

Jessica L. Parnell is a homechool consultant and evaluator as well as the principal of Bridgeway Homeschool Academy, a fully accredited international homeschool academy that has been serving the homeschool community since 1989.

Copyright 2005-2006 Homeschoolacademy.com All Rights Reserved.