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ometimes the best way to spark a child’s curiosity is to share your own. A breeze through the curtains, a hum from the city, steam rising from soup—everyday moments become richer when you voice your own questions aloud. “What makes the air stir?” “Why do cities buzz at night?” When kids hear these musings, they realize that wondering doesn’t end with childhood. It deepens. Sharing your “why” shows them that even adults carry questions—and that curiosity is a way of living, not a stage to grow out of.

One evening, my son stared at the streetlamp flickering outside. “Why does it blink like that?” he asked. I shrugged and said, “Let’s guess.” We each made up a theory—one silly, one serious—and left it at that. The next night, he pointed to a plane overhead and asked, “Where do you think it’s going?” It became a game: trading guesses, asking questions, wondering out loud. He didn’t always want answers—he wanted the permission to stay curious. That’s what stuck. He learned that questions don’t need to lead anywhere to be worth asking.

Encourage their own wondering by speaking yours into the air. During a walk or while cooking, let your questions surface naturally. For younger kids, keep it playful—why do shadows stretch or soup bubble? For teens, invite bigger patterns—why people act a certain way, or what makes a place feel alive. Return to these shared puzzles later in the day to show that wondering isn’t fleeting. It lingers, connects, and grows—especially when you make it a habit worth passing on.

TIPS

• Let your own whys show up in daily life.
• Ask your own questions without expecting answers—let them see what puzzles you too.
• Keep it casual and real—no script needed.

ACTIVITIES

• Wonder Walk: Say something you’re curious about during a walk—see if it sparks anything.
• Dinner Puzzler: Share a question that popped into your head that day—no pressure to answer it.
• Why Jot: Keep a notebook where you record your own questions. Let your child add theirs if they want.