When you step outside with a child, you never know what will spark their attention. A snail inching along the path. A cloud shaped like a dragon. The sound of water rushing in the distance. These moments are tiny sparks of curiosity, and if we follow them, they can guide us into deeper learning.
I call this the Curiosity Compass.
Just like a compass always points north, curiosity points us toward wonder. It gives us direction when we’re not sure where to begin, and it helps us trust that every question is a doorway to discovery.
For kids, curiosity is natural. They are born explorers, constantly asking why and how. As adults, we can use the Curiosity Compass to remind ourselves that learning doesn’t have to be linear or scripted! It can be guided by wonder. When a child asks a question about a bird, that’s a compass point. When they pause to pick up a rock, that’s another. Every observation becomes a path we can follow together.
The Curiosity Compass isn’t about having the “right” answers. It’s about direction. It tells us: follow this question, see where it leads, and let it open new doors. Sometimes the path takes us into science, sometimes into art, sometimes into stories or history. The beauty is that all of it counts as learning.
Try this with your kids:
The next time you’re outside, ask your child:
- What’s the most interesting thing you see right now?
- What do you wonder about it?
- What would you like to do next. Draw it, write about it, or look it up together?
By listening closely and following their answers, you’re practicing navigation by curiosity. And just like a compass, it will never fail to point you somewhere worth exploring.
Because in the end, curiosity isn’t just a tool for learning. It’s a way of seeing the world.
English