Strike a superhero pose because with the power you have to access an answer to virtually any question, you do indeed have super powers! No longer does one have to be super rich, super male, super lucky (to have been born in the right time and place) and super connected to have access to the lecture halls and the precious manuscripts of the experts who could answer your question. And even then they might bore you to death with technical speak. Now, a 4 year old can pick up a tablet and learn more in a 2-minute video than a scholar could have acquired in a lifetime. This power is your secret weapon for fanning the flame of curiosity in kids and keeping it alive well past when they need your help to brush their teeth.
Using Digital to Nurture Kids’ Curiosity
We take it for granted but a few decades ago, our access to knowledge would have been mind-boggling for even Einstein (and he had a big mind!). Match that power up to the fact that kids have 1001 questions for you everyday and it is a perfect opportunity to help them learn through things that spark their curiosity. They are happy, they learn, you are happy, and you learn. Win, win, win, win. Here are some tips to achieve this quartet of winning.
Turn (some of) your child’s questions into missions to learn more
The kids are always asking questions and sometimes for peace of mind we do need to just throw them the answer and call it a day. But every now and then, when the child asks an interesting question, invite them to join you in a challenge to discover the answer with you. Use a question like ‘why do mosquitoes bite me’ to introduce them to insects, human response to bites, food chains, pollination and even flight. The learning paths are boundless and limited only by what you can do and have time to do. This is where the power of the internet and a Digital Wayfinder like Aneta comes in. Whatever the question, there are experts who have created age appropriate resources that you can access online – probably for free! Use Aneta to access curated playlists of resources for your child and empower them to independently go through those resources to discover the answer. You are not only teaching them the answer to why mosquitoes bite them, but you are teaching them how to discover and learn. What’s not to like?
Harness Digital Resources to Take the Theme of The Question Into Other Learning Areas.
We all know that it is much easier to get kids to do what they already want to do. So if your child shows interest or curiosity in a topic, use that theme wherever you can to maximize cooperation. In other words, liberally expand the mission that comes out of your child’s own question. Say your child asked you why the motorbike on the road made such a loud noise. Take up that motif and when they need to practice math or reading, pull up a worksheet or game with a motor bike or a loud sounds motif. Ask them to read a book or story with a motorbike theme. Again use the internet and digital wayfinders to help you. You do not have worksheets and games on every topic lying around your house – but the internet does!
Use Digital to Reinforce and Celebrate Your Child’s Efforts to Learn
Everybody basks in the glow of affirmation from their parents. Digital learning resources excel at giving voice to encouraging the child. All that ‘Way to go!’ and ‘Atta boy’ and ‘Good try’ and ‘You did it!’ and little rewards or celebratory sounds, stars and stickers are awesome supplements to what we do and say as parents. We do our best but adulting is hard and sometimes we are not in the mood to celebrate. But digital never tires and so the kids are assured a healthy dose of encouragement and feedback. Don’t you wish sometimes that when you were in school, your 1 subject wide ruled notebook would get a little voice and cheer you on?
Were it not for the internet, where else would one ever be able to play the sound of a giraffe to a child. In case you’re wondering, here is what a giraffe sounds like. Is it what you expected?
