Do you snub your child often?

Children are natural-born explorers. When they start talking and asking questions it is their method of fuelling their never-ending curiosity. It very important to keep that spark of inquisitiveness alive in your child; it genuinely pays off in the long run. Never ignore your child when he is asking a question because that would affect his self-esteem and he may lose interest in asking questions in the future. 

By answering their questions you are helping them over a period of time to develop their own opinions on issues around them, and of course, increasing their knowledge bank. I remember reading this article where there was a French scientist who dedicated his Nobel prize to his mother because he said all the other mothers of the children in his class would ask their children, “what did you learn today”, but his mother would ask him “did you ask a great question in school today?” - that motivated him to become such a successful scientist that he is today.

 It is unfortunate that when we are children ,we are so inquisitive and having an undyi g thirst to know more, but as we become adults, we lose the curiosity of a child. That is truly because either our parents didn’t have time to answer our questions or didn’t know the answers themselves. But the world is changing so fast, and we have access to so much information at the click of a button. We need to make time to answer our children’s questions, even if it is only for an hour in a day. By doing so you are investing in your child’s future. You can increase the curiosity of a child in multiple ways.

·        Any activity that you do with your child, initiate a question answer- session at the end of it, so if you are watching a video with them ask them questions as to what they think about it ?

·        Have a board with a 'question of the day' written on it, and have a discussion on it ?

·        While reading a story together, ask what the child thinks the end of the story would be?

·        Never get irritated or ignore your child when he is asking a question; you can answer the question or tell the child to give you some time and the two of you can find answers together (in case you are unable give an answer).

Encouraging a child to ask questions sparks creativity as well. I have seen parents who snub their children and give them an ipad or make them watch television because they do not have the time for their children. I know that work is important and we all have to work, but like we invest time and effort at our work-place to get results, we need to invest time and effort in our children, because the time lost never comes back.

 You are laying the foundation of your child's future at that very moment by answering his questions. I do get overwhelmed at times with an endless barrage of questions from my 6 year old,  and there are times when I can’t get my work done.

It is the true fact of life that as our children keeps growing, they would need us less and less and the time they spend with us would keep reducing. At the end of the day we should honestly have no regrets in life. Enjoy every bit of motherhood; take everything in your stride because time and tide wait for none!

Children learn as they play, most importantly, in play children learn how to learn – O. Fred Donaldson