The article “Supporting Early Scientific Thinking Through Curiosity,” by Jamie J. Jirout (2020), discusses how curiosity can encourage scientific thinking in early years. Children have a natural drive to explore the world around them, and curiosity—the urge to seek out information and bridge knowledge gaps—is a key catalyst for discovery. Jirout explores how curiosity is an important exercising ground for the questioning, exploration, and learning that are all critical aspects to scientific reasoning.
Scientific thinking can be defined as active, purpose-driven information-seeking strategies, like questions, hypotheses, and observations. Research has shown that children engage in such behaviour pretty much from the moment they are born, and that their natural curiosity drives this type of behaviour.
Curiosity leverages learning in 3 keyways:
Encouraging Information-Seeking Behaviour: Encountering uncertainty or ambiguity increases engagement in children. Example: A butterfly with closed wings can trigger a child to question ‘why does this happen’, which causes further observations and questioning. This interaction is associated with greater academic readiness, given that children who are more curious also do better in school.
Guiding Information-Seeking Behaviour: Curiosity enables children to focus on relevant information, making them more effective learners. Research shows that curious children are more likely to ask insightful questions, which deepens their understanding. Acting as role models, adults encourage curiosity by demonstrating information-seeking behaviours and asking questions.
Encouraging Deeper Learning: Rather than passively receiving new knowledge, children who actively ask questions absorb new concepts and build upon their existing understanding more effectively. This further encourages questioning and interest, leading to a deeper engagement with learning and a stronger foundation for future discovery and critical thinking.
A responsive and engaging environment that fosters curiosity should not only be encouraged but actively facilitated. It is essential for early childhood educators to create an environment that values the exploration of ideas, not just the correct answer. Strategies such as encouraging open-ended exploration, modelling inquisition, and prompting children to ask questions that explore deeper layers of understanding are effective ways to nurture their natural wonder.
Curiosity wanes in children as they age and mature, especially within formal educational environments that emphasize performance over exploration. Educators need to avoid squashing curiosity by highlighting mastery goals — learning for knowledge — over performance-based goals.
Although more research is needed to fully understand the best ways to cultivate curiosity in young children, educators can already play a key role in nurturing curiosity, supporting scientific thinking, and fostering a love of learning in their nursery. This early foundation sets the stage for continued academic success.
