Dr. Ana Aznar
Table of contents
In our Ask Dr Ana series, Dr. Ana Aznar answers real questions from parents with practical, evidence-based advice. Dr. Ana Aznar is the founder of REC Parenting and a psychologist who specialises in parenting, family relationships, and children's socioemotional development.
Parent's Question
"Everyone talks about raising kids who love learning, but honestly, how do you actually do that? Like, what can I start doing today that'll help my child stay curious as they grow up?"
Dr Ana's Answer
This is a very good question.
Many parents focus on grades, achievements, and academic success, but one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a genuine love of learning. When children stay curious about the world, learning becomes something they enjoy rather than something they feel forced to do.
Here are a few things I would recommend.
Expose Your Children to Different Experiences
Children learn best when they experience the world around them.
Explore nature together. Visit museums. Walk around your local town or city and talk about the things you see. New experiences introduce children to new ideas, questions, and ways of thinking.
You do not need expensive days out. Even a walk through a park can become an opportunity to learn about animals, plants, weather, or history.
Expose Them to Information
Learning does not only happen in school.
Watch the news together when appropriate. Listen to podcasts or the radio in the car. Talk about interesting things happening in your community or around the world.
The more information children are exposed to, the more opportunities they have to develop their own interests and ask questions.
Let Them Listen to Adult Conversations
Children learn a great deal simply by listening.
When conversations are age-appropriate, allow your children to hear adults discussing ideas, solving problems, sharing experiences, and talking about current events.
This helps children understand how people think, communicate, and learn from one another.
Ask for Their Opinions
Children are naturally curious, but they are more likely to stay curious when they feel their thoughts matter.
Ask them what they think about things happening in the world. Ask questions about books, films, news stories, or experiences you have shared together.
Most importantly, listen to their answers.
When children feel their opinions are valued, they become more confident thinkers and more willing to engage with new ideas.
Encourage Their Interests
Your child may become fascinated by dinosaurs, football, insects, trains, space, music, art, or something you have never thought about before.
Try to be curious about their interests, even if you do not personally find them exciting.
When parents support a child's interests, they send a powerful message that learning is enjoyable and worth pursuing.
Many lifelong passions begin as childhood curiosities.
Encourage Reading and Read Yourself
Reading remains one of the best ways to develop curiosity and a love of learning.
Children who see adults reading are more likely to view reading as a normal and enjoyable part of life.
Read together when they are young. Encourage independent reading as they grow. Let them choose books that genuinely interest them, even if those books are not what you would have picked yourself.
How to Encourage Curiosity Every Day
You do not need special lessons or complicated activities to raise a curious child.
Simple everyday habits can make a big difference:
- Explore new places together
- Talk about the world around you
- Encourage questions
- Listen to your child's ideas
- Support their interests
- Read regularly as a family
- Model curiosity yourself
Children learn as much from what we do as from what we say.
Dr Ana Aznar's Parenting Expertise
Dr. Ana Aznar has a BA in Psychology from The Open University, UK, an MSc in Applied Child Psychology from Kingston University, UK, and a PhD in Developmental Psychology from Kingston University, UK. She conducts research on parenting, family relationships, and children's socioemotional development.
Raising Curious Kids FAQs
How do I encourage my child to love learning?
Expose them to new experiences, encourage questions, support their interests, and make learning a natural part of everyday life.
Why is curiosity important for children?
Curiosity motivates children to explore, ask questions, solve problems, and develop a lifelong interest in learning.
What if my child is not interested in reading?
Try offering books related to their interests and model reading yourself. The goal is to help them associate reading with enjoyment rather than pressure.
Can everyday activities help children learn?
Absolutely. Conversations, walks, shopping trips, travel, cooking, and family discussions all provide valuable learning opportunities.
Should I push my child towards educational activities?
Children tend to learn best when they are interested and engaged. Encouraging curiosity and exploration is often more effective than forcing specific activities.
Do you have any parenting questions for our parenting coach and expert, Dr. Ana Aznar? Ask for free today!
