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Curiosity: The Great Key of Knowledge
By Sahar Kassaimah
27/12/2001
"What?" "Why?" and "How?" are questions that parents hear almost day and night from children who are eager to learn about the big and puzzling world around them. After all, how could they discover this world and appease their curiosity about actions and reactions, and their thirst to know and learn, without asking a lot of Why(s) and How(s).
"Children are such curious creatures. They explore, question, and wonder, and by doing so, learn. From the moment of birth, likely even before, humans are drawn to new things. When we are curious about something new, we want to explore it. And while exploring we discover. By turning the light switch on and off over and over again, the toddler is learning about cause and effect. By pouring water into a dozen different-shaped containers and on the floor and over clothes, the 4-year-old is learning pre-concepts of mass and volume. A child discovers the sweetness of chocolate, the bitterness of lemon, the heat of the radiator, and the cold of ice"(Duncan).
Some children like to explore with only their minds; while others explore in more physical ways, such as touching, smelling, tasting, and climbing. Therefore, it is healthier for our children's intellectual development that we keep harmful objects out of their reach. This way, we do not have to keep forbidding them from their chances to discover and learn, by telling saying "No" and "don't" all the time.
"Don't touch. Don't climb. Don't yell. Don't take that apart. Don't get dirty. Don't. Don't. Don't." Children sense and respond to our fears, biases, and attitudes" (Duncan).
By the time children mature, parents find new ways to show them which things are they allowed being curious about and which they are to stay away from. Meanwhile, because of their desire to learn about reasons and causes, they will encircle their parents with hundreds of questions. They also enjoy asking and discovering about the Creator and the creations. And sometimes, they corner us with complicated questions that are too hard to be answered.
However, they never get tired of asking and talking because that it is how they learn. The problem is that not all parents have enough patience with children, especially when it comes to the questions of "Why" and "What".
Some parents get tired and bored of these questions and stifle their children's curiosity, even though that is what learning is all about. Sometimes they even give the children the impression that it is impolite to be too inquisitive, forgetting that without this endless curiosity, genuine learning is impossible. And the more curious children are, the easier they are to inspire and motivate. Their curiosity will increase their chances to make new friends, join social groups, read new books, and learn about the world around them.
So, since curiosity is a great tool of knowledge, psychologists advise parents to answer questions and ask questions, particularly ones that require more than a "yes" or "no" response, confirming that questions help children learn to compare and classify things.
As parents, we need to answer our children's questions thoughtfully and to encourage them to answer their own questions. If you we don't know the answer to a question, we should say so. Then together with our children, we can try to find the answer.
Our children need to feel that we enjoy our discussions with them and appreciate their ideas, even if they are not mature.
Talking with children broadens their understanding of language and of the world around them. Because children are social creatures, they enjoy sharing their explorations with us. It is such a pleasure for them to hear our encouragement and to see our enjoyment and interest in learning new things with them.
We need to give them time, playing and discovering new things together. It is the natural way for them to become creative. In the meantime, we need to encourage them to talk with us about their own special thoughts and feelings. That is how we learn what is on their minds and understand how they think and discover.
Our need to the question "Why" is not less important than our need to breathe. Some psychologists believe that the "Why" question is the question of life and the question that differentiate between human beings and other creations. Therefore, they advise parents to encourage their children's curiosity, confirming that human life begins to die when we stop asking "Why?"
Our need to the question "Why" will exist forever, as long as we live on earth, because unlike our bodies, our minds and souls do not deteriorate at a specific age. And as long as we ask "Why", we will nurture our souls and respond to our minds' appeals.
However, curiosity is the greatest tool that helps humans to reach the truth about life, creations and creator. Salman Al-Faressi (the Persian) (RAA), activated by his curiosity to know and understand, has spent years looking for the truth, until he discovered what he wants, in Islam. Nowadays, many others are still looking for the same truth; Salman was looking for, hundreds years ago. And as some need help and encouragement to reach this truth, others have already reach it, thanks to the great questions of "why" and "what".
September 11th Has Revived America's Curiosity
After the horrible attacks of September 11th, American people started to ask "Why?" As they were looking for reasonable answers for the hundreds of "Why(s)" and "What(s)" they had in mind, they started to read and search about "Islam", whom some of its followers are accused as the perpetrators of the attacks.
Their curiosity prompted them to learn and understand more about this religion, one of the most misunderstood religions on earth. Many Americans started to buy Islamic books, and to attend interfaith meetings and open houses days in mosques and centers; in affect to "learn about Islam". Suddenly the Holy Qur'an and Islamic books became the hottest books on the market. And for the first time, Islamic centers and mosques were out of Islamic books and were forced to order thousands of translated Qur'an to respond to people's demands.
Curiosity had opened the door for these people to ask and learn about Islam without any effort from Muslims to invite or encourage them. Moreover, their curiosity had lead and guided them towards understanding the true picture of Islam and to see its greatness. Many have opened their souls towards the most peaceful and beautiful religion on earth. Herein, others have converted to Islam, while still many others are searching and discovering, thanks be to Allah (SWT), and to curiosity; the greatest key of knowledge.
Sources and References:
Clark, Janet A. "Getting Young Children Ready to Learn."
"Ideas For Encouraging The Desire To Learn - Preschoolers." Human Environmental Sciences
O'Malley, William J. "Curiosity: Children's Curiosity Must be Encouraged." Issue: Oct 3, 1998.
Perry, Bruce Duncan M.D., Ph.D. "Curiosity: The Fuel of Development."
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