Questions that nurture curiosity

You don’t have to be a walking encyclopaedia

Your child asks, “Why do some things sink and others float?” You could give them the ready-made explanation. Sometimes that’s useful, but with a safe, everyday question, you can first make room for exploration: “What do you think? How could we find out?”

Open-ended questions help children think. Try: “What surprised you about that?”, “What might happen if we changed one thing?” or “How could we find out which option works?” This isn’t about testing them for the right answer. It’s about exploring together and giving them the confidence to suggest a hypothesis.

If you don’t know the answer, say so calmly: “I’m not sure exactly. Let’s find a reliable explanation.” Your child sees that not knowing isn’t something to be ashamed of and that claims can be checked. You also show them that adults don’t have to pretend to be certain.

Don’t keep asking questions forever. If your child is tired or needs a direct answer, a string of questions can feel like an interrogation. Sometimes a simple explanation is enough; at other times, you can try a safe experiment together using everyday objects.

For a simple experiment, you can write down your prediction and the result. Come back to them the next day and compare what you thought would happen.

Try it out: Choose one small, everyday question. Ask your child to suggest two possible explanations. Think together about what might help you tell them apart. Praise their reasoning, even if their first guess turns out to be wrong.