It’s a beautiful, sunny day in the middle of July, the perfect weather for a bike ride in the park with your little one.

They love riding their bike more than anyone you know, and you can’t wait to spend the day with them. Riding your bikes together doesn’t just give you an opportunity to bond with your child, but it also gives them a chance to ask you lots of curiosity-fuelled questions, and learn more about the world around them.

At the toddler age, curiosity is a very common trait for children to have. It’s natural for them to wonder about their surroundings, and it’s very important for us as parents to encourage their curiosity as much as we can!

And when it comes to curiosity, there are seven principles that parents can apply to boost this natural quality within their little ones.

Let’s check them out!

What are the seven principles to encourage curiosity in my toddler?

Follow the child – let them lead.

Letting your child lead is one of the most important lessons you will learn as a parent. Giving them this sense of independence allows them to develop, grow, and develop confidence. Letting your child lead can mean many things. It can mean walking, letting them lead the way, and walking at their pace. It can also mean getting things ready in the evening for them if they are not a morning person. Or perhaps making efforts to foster a particular interest they have.

Encourage hands-on learning – let them explore.

Hands-on learning is ideal for toddlers, as they learn best when they can touch, hear, taste, smell, and so on. Proving your little one with these types of first-hand experiences allows them to explore and figure things out for themselves. For example, when they ask you an inquisitive question, instead of giving them an answer, you could say something like, “I don’t know about that; let’s find out together”. Or, if there is an object they want to feel and interact with in your house, as long as it is safe, go ahead and let them engage in this sensory experience.

Include the child in daily life – let them be included.

Children love to be included – and they’ll often make this known! So instead of tiring that your little one won’t stop clinging to your leg, take it as a sign that they just want to be more involved in what you’re doing. Embrace this, and do your best to include them. This could mean getting them to help with food preparation, the laundry, or hanging up clothes to dry.

Go slow – let them set their own pace.

Children will obviously need more time than us to keep up, which is perfectly OK! Toddlers don’t typically like to rush, and it’s good to embrace this and always let your child enjoy the process of what they are doing. For example, if you’re in a hurry in the morning, try not to say things like “we’re late again!”, as this will cause unnecessary stress. If you rush your child every morning, they might become resentful and not cooperate with your requests when you actually need them to.

Help me to help myself – let them be independent and responsible.

“Help me to help myself” is a common phrase that translates to setting things up for your child, so you can allow them to be successful by themselves. This means stepping in to help them as little as possible and only as much as you feel is necessary. So, when your child is engaged in an activity, remember to show your support and acceptance, and try your best to give them time to practice without over-intervening.

Encourage creativity – let them wonder.

Being creative allows your child to connect with their imagination, and this is extremely important for their development! You can encourage your child’s creativity in many ways, such as providing materials for play, encouraging them to create stories, and putting a lot of time and effort into engaging in fantasy play with them. For example, pretending to be a school teacher or the mummy of a family.

Observe – let them show.

As a parent, observing is a key skill to develop. It gives us the time to understand our children’s behaviour without rushing to make assumptions. It also gives us the space to notice when something has changed within them and appreciate any unique traits they appear to be showcasing. If you learn to observe your child over an extended period, this allows you to notice even the most subtle differences in the way they are acting or how their environment is affecting them.

What are the 7 principles to encourage curiosity in my toddler?