Children come into the world breathing out question marks but
only some retain the habits of exploring, learning, and discovering, as they
grow older. Those who do so tend to be smarter, more creative, and more
successful. So why are many of us allowing our curiosity to wane?
A partial answer lies in how the Internet, while providing easy
access to information actually hurts the growth of curiosity. True curiosity is
the sustained quest for understanding and begets insight and innovation, which
is actually at risk in a wired world.
Reading nurtures a child’s curiosity. Curiosity is our
greatest search engine and research has shown that curiosity is correlated with
creativity, intelligence, improved learning and memory, and problem solving.
Reading feed curiosity—the quest to know and understand. Curiosity
is the human capacity to be deeply fascinated. The most productive mind is the
one most open to indulging the impulse to daydream, to ponder, and to let your
imagination take hold. Reading feeds the
appetite for new ideas, beckoning readers to wander with a keen alertness.
Learning happens when curiosity is ignited. Maybe a book’s
most important attribute is the degree it encourages curiosity—to know more, to
understand more, to feel more.
Curiosity is how we acquire knowledge and it reminds us we
are alive.
Curiosity isn’t a gift that keeps on giving. It is a mental
muscle that atrophies without regular exercise and a habit that parents,
schools and workplaces need to nurture.
“I have no special talents,” said Albert Einstein. “I am
only passionately curious.”
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