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 question about stars on a night walk might seem fleeting—but it can open a door. When your child wonders why stars shine, respond with curiosity of your own: “What could that lead to?” Their answers might be playful or profound—stories of rocket ships, ideas for inventions, dreams of discovery. In asking that, you’re not testing them. You’re giving their imagination permission to stretch. When a question leads to something bigger, it becomes more than a moment—it becomes momentum. And in a world that often narrows their focus, your openness helps their vision grow.

One afternoon, my son found a cracked paintbrush in our art box. I held it up and asked, “What could this become?” He dreamed aloud—painting a mural—and sketched the first lines with bright eyes. “What else inspires you lately?” I added. That moment turned into a spark. Soon he was exploring questions from brushes to blueprints, drawing often and thinking bigger. Our shared moments became launchpads, where each rough idea had room to breathe. He learned that curiosity isn’t only about making sense of what exists—it’s about imagining what might come next.

Let their questions take shape through action. If they wonder about the sky, help them build a cardboard telescope. If they ask about buildings, visit one together and sketch its lines. You might imagine what kind of story a question could spark, or write a simple goal on a sticky note and post it where it can linger. These steps—playful or purposeful—show that a dream doesn’t need to wait. It begins the moment they dare to ask.

TIPS

• Discuss dreams to spark joy.
• Invite goals to fuel curiosity.
• Track dreams to deepen their gaze.

ACTIVITIES

• Playful Dream: Talk about a question that sparked a fun idea—then imagine what it could become.
• Goal Muse: Ask your teen what dream they’d pursue if nothing stood in the way—then listen.
• Dream Jot: Write one idea in a journal, no matter how small, and talk about its spark.