The Times Australia
The Times Magazine

.
Men's Weekly

.

Here are some great ways that you can support creative and curious children

  • Written by NewsServices.com

A child’s learning doesn’t stop when they leave their classroom or daycare room. Children’s minds will develop faster in their first five years, than at any other time in their lives. It’s important for us as Educators, as well as parents to always be providing opportunities for our children to explore their curiosity and get creative.

Little Saints embraces play-based learning as it sparks a child’s curiosity. It also builds their confidence, and empowers children to have the viewpoint of endless possibilities. It’s our priority to be working with children to develop skills that will help them excel in life, including, critical thinking, creativity, innovation and problem solving skills. Here are some ways that you, as a role model, can support your child’s creativity and curiosity every single day.

1- They’re always watching

Children are born curious and will spend every waking moment watching, learning and trying to figure out the world that surrounds them. Our actions as parents and carers are critical in shaping their minds. They are continually adding new knowledge to build upon the existing knowledge, then they adapt previously held ideas and information to make way for the new. This means that each time you act curiously or creatively, like choosing to stop and smell the roses, or have a dance like nobody's watching, your child is learning how to act out and explore those emotions.

2- Creating a curious space

While children are naturally very curious and creative, they will need a place and opportunity to build on those specific skills. At each of our Little Saints childcare centres, we design the environment for children to learn and explore based on the interests of each individual. The type of activities we do can easily be duplicated at home by offering children materials, such as blocks for building, arts and crafts, that will act as a blank canvas. This allows children to express themselves, and while it might get messy, the conversations and learnings which follow will be invaluable.

3- Prompting conversations

‘Kids say the darndest things’… and we’ve all been faced with those curious “but why is the ocean blue?” type questions. While you may be tempted to promptly provide a response to move on, children do not learn by simply being told. By using questioning language it will help children develop a love for learning. It will also empower them to use their curiosity in self-directed exploration.

Use these conversation starters to prompt conversation with your child:

● “Why do you think…?”

● “Let’s find out…”

● “I wonder what would happen if…”

● “Could we do it this way…?”

4- Giving your child the opportunity to take the wheel

We know that routine and structure is especially important for children as they grow, but there is a time and place where going with the flow can benefit your child. By simply taking a different way on the walk home from your play at the park, letting a child choose their T-shirt, or by lingering in an aisle at the shops can make a difference to a child. It shows the child that they are respected and understood. This empowers them as they realise that their unique ways of viewing and being in the world will be supported by you as their parent.

5- Embracing the world around you

A part of our curriculum at Little Saints is exploring our local community. It not only offers an endless amount of opportunities to learn, but it creates conversations and gives the children a chance to investigate and explore.

When we go on adventures in the local area, it allows our children to explore the world around them, gives them a chance to form their identities and also gives them an opportunity to feel a part of a community. This further advances their creative and curious nature.

6- Mixing with others

By interacting with a wide range of ages and diverse groups it can support a child’s compassion and curiosity. When younger children are mixing with older children, they will benefit from the positive modelling, as well promoting aspiration to reach their capability levels. In the same instance, older children will rise to the expectations from the younger children and teacher, by being responsible and by having the opportunity to use their experience and knowledge. We celebrate the diverse range of cultural backgrounds amongst our children and Educators at Little Saints. We encourage our Educators and families to share the heritage and traditions of their cultures. We do this by exploring different cultural holidays, food dishes, singing songs and reading books.

Using experiences with children of many ages is an excellent way to nurture your child’s curiosity and creativity. Children will become more inquisitive when they get to play with children who are at different ages to them. Whether they are older or younger siblings, some relatives, or friends and classmates. The benefits of organising these play dates are crucial for curious and creative children.

7- Playing along

Us as humans are extremely social creatures – and the need for participating in activities and socialising starts from a very young age. Adults are often invited to play in their children’s imaginative world. When we embrace these worlds, instead of trying to change them or question them, it is a magical adventure, not only for the child, but for the bonding opportunity for the adult too.

Whether you are playing with a matchbox car or buying items from a pretend supermarket, children can learn and grow as the input and support in pretend play can create opportunities to build a trusting and supportive relationship with them, and will build them up as well.

8- Practising (with patience) makes perfect

You don’t have to make supporting creativity and curiosity in your child a complicated task. By completing simple daily activities, both planned and spontaneous, you can help your child in their learning and development throughout their early childhood journey. Tasks which are often considered chores for adults, can actually be exciting and interesting learning experiences for your child to explore. Things which are simple and fun like baking together, doing the gardening or collecting the mail.

By working together with our Educators at Little Saints, we can help you support the creative and curious mind of your child. By incorporating simple daily activities with structured and free play based learning, we can help work with you to give your child the best start in their early childhood. Find out more about Early Childcare Centres here.



Times Magazine

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

Foodbank Queensland celebrates local hero for National Volunteer Week

Stephen Carey is a bit bananas.   He splits his time between his insurance broker business, caring for his young family, and volunteering for Foodbank Queensland one day a week. He’s even run the Bridge to Brisbane in a banana suit to raise mon...

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

CNC Machining Meets Stage Design - Black Swan State Theatre Company & Tommotek

When artistry meets precision engineering, incredible things happen. That’s exactly what unfolded when Tommotek worked alongside the Black Swan State Theatre Company on several of their innovative stage productions. With tight deadlines and intrica...

Uniden Baby Video Monitor Review

Uniden has released another award-winning product as part of their ‘Baby Watch’ series. The BW4501 Baby Monitor is an easy to use camera for keeping eyes and ears on your little one. The camera is easy to set up and can be mounted to the wall or a...

The Times Features

Running Across Australia: What Really Holds the Body Together?

How William Goodge’s 3,800km run reveals the connection between movement, mindset, and mental resilience As a business owner, I’ve come to realise that the biggest wins rarely com...

Telehealth is Transforming Healthcare Services in Australia

It has traditionally not been easy to access timely healthcare in Australia, particularly for people who live in remote areas. Many of them spend hours on the road just to see a...

Launchd Acquires Huume, Strengthening Creative Firepower Across Talent-Led Marketing

Launchd, a leader in talent, technology and brand partnerships, has announced its acquisition of influencer talent management agency Huume from IZEA. The move comes as the medi...

Vietnam's "Gold Coast" Emerges as Extraordinary Investment Frontier and Australian Inspired Way of Life

$2 Billion super-city in Vung Tau set to replicate Australia's Gold Coast success story A culturally metamorphic development aptly named "Gold Coast" is set to reshape Vietna...

Choosing the Wrong Agent Is the #1 Regret Among Aussie Property Sellers

Selling your home is often one of the largest financial transactions you’ll make, and for many Australians, it’s also one of the most emotional. A new survey of Australian home se...

Travel Insurance for Families: What Does it Cover and Why it’s Essential

Planning a family trip is exciting, but unexpected mishaps can turn your dream vacation into a stressful ordeal. That’s where travel insurance comes in—it’s your safety net when ...