There are many things a child can do that can drive a parent insane, and one of it is the limitless number of questions a child can ask to an adult. It may be tedious and frustrating to answer their repetitive questions but do know that a child asking questions is always a good sign!
This is because children are naturally curious creatures. They are keen to explore and learn, and by asking questions, they are developing their cognitive skills1. According to a study children ask questions due to their own disequilibrium and providing them answers when they need it allows them to have depth of processing skills1.
But, in today’s world, children can gain easy access to answers to their curiosities with the availability of mass media. The ever-growing content of knowledge provided for these children can help them develop their cognitive skills alongside their creative thinking and skills.
Cognitive skills and creative skills
How can we simply understand what is defined by cognitive skills? Cognitive comes from the word ‘cognition’, which means ‘understanding’. Hence, cognitive skills are the primary skills your children use to think, read, learn, remember, reason, and pay attention2.
Meanwhile, creative skills allow your children to develop imagination, build confidence, practise decision-making, and problem-solving, and express emotions, thoughts, and ideas in verbal and non-verbal ways3.
However, cognitive skills and creative skills do come hand in hand. Children need cognitive abilities to spark up their creative abilities, and vice versa.
At a young age, children are able to absorb and retain information much easier as compared to adults. This is due to their still-developing prefrontal cortices that make them more flexible when learning4, which helps them to learn at a more rapid pace.
Let your children share their knowledge
Children who ask a lot of questions also tend to communicate more! As they have more knowledge, they are keen to share this knowledge with the people around them. So, how can you, as a parent, encourage your child to share what they have learned?
Ways your children can share their knowledge
- Visual sharing. Some children prefer to pick up coloured pencils, crayons, or some paint and brushes. Allow them to indulge in messy play alongside sharing their thoughts. Not only will this let them increase their creative skills, it will also help them to develop their motor skills.
- Verbal sharing. As mentioned, the more curious a child is, the more they are going to talk. Listen to them and ask them questions about their sharings. The back-and-forth communication is surely to encourage their cognitive skills and communication skills.
- Storytelling. If your child loves to be the center of attention and adores talking or writing, then storytelling is the way to go for them! Storytelling is a great method to allow them to increase both creative and cognitive skills. They can use their creative skills such as imagining the environment of their story and make use of their cognitive skills such as remembering the events of their story.
Support your child's overall growth and development
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Source(s):
1 Children's Questions: A Mechanism for Cognitive Development
3 Creative activities for school-age learning and development
4 Why Children Learn Faster than Adults and How You Can Learn Their Tricks
5 Reverri EJ, et al. Nutrients 2018.10, 1346
6 Pickering LK, et al. Pediatrics. 1998;101(2):242-249
7 Goehring KC. at al. J Nun. 2016 Dec; 146(12)2559-2546. Epub 2016
8 Xia, Y of aL Asia Pac K Cin Nutr. 2021 Sep; 30(3);401-414.
9 Jeon, Y et al. Am J Chin Med. 2016;44(3):489-514
10 Bovier Et. at at PLoS One. 2014. Vol 9 Issue 9;e106178
11 Renzi LM, et aL Ophthalmic Physiol opt. 2010.30: 351-357
12 Scott et al. Official J. Am Paediatric. 1998;102;e59
13 Gurnida DA, et al. Early Hum Dev. 2012; 88:595-60
14 Lutein study in adults. Renzi LM, at aL Ophthal Physiol.2010:30;351-7
15 EE Vak at al. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2000 Mar;70(2);31-42
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