Raising Curious Kids in a Changing World: Practical Tips from Nord Anglia's INSIGHTS

The pace of technological change feels truly staggering today. AI can now create high-quality text, images, and music from simple prompts. Space travel is no longer exclusive to governments, with private companies like SpaceX on the rise. CRISPR technology can even edit human genes to treat disorders like sickle cell anemia.

In the face of such rapid change, it’s important to prepare our kids for a future rife with change.

As experts in educational research, Nord Anglia Education delves into this subject in their latest INSIGHTS article, ‘How to Raise Curious Kids in an Age of Change’.

The piece discusses the importance of fostering curiosity in children to help them adapt to rapid technological advancements. It introduces four modes of learning - Resister, Passenger, Achiever, and Explorer - highlighting that children in Explorer mode, driven by internal curiosity, tend to achieve better grades and exhibit greater motivation and happiness.

THE FOUR LEARNING MODES THAT FOSTER CURIOSITY IN CHILDREN

• Resister mode: Children experience feelings of inadequacy or being overlooked, which may result in actions such as avoiding schoolwork or skipping school altogether.
• Passenger mode: Children complete only the necessary tasks but find it hard to link their personal interests to their educational experience.  
• Achiever mode: Children seem actively involved but are overly focused on results, often fearing mistakes and risk burning out.  
• Explorer mode: The optimal learning state where children are motivated by their own curiosity, exploring meaningful questions that enhance their academic performance, drive, and overall well-being.

THE EXPLORER ADVANTAGE

To achieve the Explorer mode, parents and educators should focus on teaching ‘learning to learn’ skills, also known as metacognition, which involves: self-awareness, regulation and transfer. You can read more about how we use metacognition in the classroom at The British School of Tashkent (BST) in our blog.

THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN ENCOURAGING ENGAGEMENT

Parents play a huge role, mainly through how you talk to your children. 

At BST, we take great pride in our close-knit community of students, parents, and alumni, who create a warm and supportive environment. Our educators work hand-in-hand with parents, fostering strong partnerships to guide students toward achieving their full potential and striving to cultivate Explorer mode. Our reputation as a welcoming, family-focused international school is something we cherish and continually strive to uphold. Through this, children can become resilient, lifelong learners, ready to thrive in an age of constant change.

For more information on raising curious children, read the full article from Nord Anglia Education, ‘How to Raise Curious Kids in an Age of Change’.

Alternatively, come and meet first-hand our incredible educators at The British School of Tashkent by contacting our Admissions team to arrange a personalised tour of our school.