C

hildren aren’t just learning about the world—they’re learning about themselves. Every question they ask, every strange object they pause to study, helps reveal what captures their attention, what matters to them. Wonder becomes a mirror. When you explore with them without rushing to answers, you help them listen to their own minds. That process builds more than knowledge—it builds identity.

One weekend, my son asked why leaves float. I didn’t explain. Instead, I said, “Let’s find out.” He ran tests, made guesses, and slowly began to trust his own thinking. What stuck wasn’t just the science—it was the feeling of discovery rooted in his own question. Since then, he approaches learning with more confidence. He knows that curiosity leads somewhere worthwhile—and that he can follow it.

Use curiosity to help them explore themselves. Ask, “What kinds of questions do you keep asking?” or “What surprises you most?” For younger kids, this might be the thrill of asking why bugs glow or why socks vanish; for teens, it could be an interest in systems, justice, or stories. The questions they chase help them hear their own voice and form a clearer sense of who they are.

TIPS

• Ask what kinds of questions your child asks most often
• Let them guide your joint explorations
• Reflect with them on what topics seem to “stick”

ACTIVITIES

• Start a “Questions I Keep Asking” journal
• Map personal interests by topic clusters over time
• Collect favorite facts that say something about how they think