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hildren’s natural curiosity is a flame that must be directed, or it risks dying out under the weight of shallow, easy answers. Teaching them to ask, “Where can we find out — and how do we know it’s right?” trains them in disciplined inquiry, turning wonder into structured exploration, a core skill for scholarship and innovation.

One evening, my daughter asked why rainbows form. Rather than simply telling her, I invited her to propose three places to look for the answer — a science book, a weather website, and an encyclopedia. She cross-checked sources, finding consistent explanations about light refraction. The discovery thrilled her not just because she had an answer, but because she had earned it through structured research.

Strengthen this capacity with a weekly “Research Adventure.” Help your child pick a real-world question and chase answers from at least two different trusted sources, comparing what they find. Keep a “Truth Tracker” notebook to map discoveries. Encyclopedias, science kits, and verified websites can be valuable tools. Over time, they’ll learn that real understanding requires work — and that discovery is all the sweeter for it.

TIPS

• Ask “Where can we find out more?” to trigger deeper search
• Encourage using more than one trusted source
• Praise careful checking for accuracy
• Use curiosity starters from nature or headlines
• Keep a discovery log to celebrate learning

ACTIVITIES

• Fact Quest: Pick a question, explore a book and a website, compare — 10 min
• Source Match: Read two explanations of a topic, find what agrees — 10 min
• Inquiry Log: Ask a “why” question, log where you found the answer — 10 min