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hildren don’t just hear your words—they study how you think. When you pause to ask a question out loud or follow a fleeting curiosity, you show them something powerful: that curiosity takes courage. It’s not just a habit—it’s a bold act of mental freedom. Grown-ups who wonder model a spirit that isn’t afraid to think differently, to not know, or to get things wrong.

One evening, I pointed to the drifting clouds and said, “I wonder what’s pushing them today.” My son guessed—“Birds?” “The wind?”—and we chased ideas together. That kind of open thinking became his default. At dinner, during class, or on walks, he started voicing questions others might keep to themselves. His bravery in asking became part of how he learned.

Make room for bold questions in your home. Ask aloud things like, “Why do we say ‘bless you’ when someone sneezes?” or “What makes toast brown?” and let your child see your own wonder in motion. For younger kids, it might be quirky details in nature; for teens, it could be cultural oddities, historical questions, or social contradictions. These brave little asks show them that curiosity isn’t just allowed—it’s admired.

TIPS

• Voice your own spontaneous questions aloud
• Praise curiosity even when it leads nowhere
• Normalize not knowing as part of real learning

ACTIVITIES

• Play “I wonder why…” at dinner or on walks
• Choose a “weird question of the week” and explore it together
• Revisit bold questions they’ve asked and discuss what made them brave