The Importance Of Nurturing Children Innate Curiosity – Experts

The Importance Of Nurturing Children Innate Curiosity – Experts

Philosophical experts who interact with children emphasize the necessity for parents to encourage their children to explore their natural curiosity by asking questions, which fosters critical thinking skills.

Additionally, they urge the government to ensure the National Policy on Education acknowledges the importance of nurturing creative thinking in young minds….READ MORE….

Among these experts are Dr. Omolara Oshinowo and Dr. Leo Igwe.

At a forum hosted by the Critical Thinking Social Empowerment Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Philosophy at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Oshinowo discussed Descartes’ foundationalism as a framework for engaging children in philosophy. She stated that children are inherently inquisitive and should not be discouraged from asking questions.

“Children must be allowed to utilize their natural curiosity. This freedom will enable them to think creatively and outside conventional boundaries. We should not confine them to limited perspectives. Creative thinking is fundamentally about problem-solving. The current National Policy on Education fails to address the importance of fostering creative thinking in children, and this oversight needs to be corrected,” she emphasized.

Dr. Leo Igwe, a member of the International Council of Philosophical Inquiry with Children and director of the Critical Thinking Social Empowerment Foundation, shared his evolving perspective on the value of philosophy for children in Nigeria.

“Previously, I was skeptical about the relevance of philosophy for or with children, believing it had little practical significance. I thought that children were too young and intellectually immature to engage in philosophical inquiry, which I viewed as an activity meant for adults with mature minds. My own experience studying philosophy revealed the complexity of its arguments, leading me to question whether children could engage with profound existential questions such as: Why is there something rather than nothing? What is our origin and destination? Does life have meaning?”

“I dismissed the notion of doing philosophy with children as inconceivable, seeing it as a rigorous discipline unsuitable for youth. However, I recently had a change of heart. I rediscovered the value of engaging children in philosophical discussions, realizing that philosophical thought is not age-dependent and that the capacity for deep thinking is present in children. Every child embodies moments of philosophical inquiry, characterized by curiosity, reflection, reasoning, and exploration. I came to understand that children are naturally inclined to philosophize and engage in thoughtful questioning.”