A survey of 500 parents with children aged two to four discovered the overwhelming majority (94%) reckon their little one's inquisitiveness knows no bounds – with 'where does the sun go at night?', 'why do birds fly but we can't?' and 'do animals have friends?' amongst the queries leaving mums and dads baffled.
Yet, rather than confess they're clueless, one in five (19%) have simply invented responses to what's been asked. Whilst 23% have resorted to searching online for the solution – with merely 16% admitting to their confusion.
Jenny Shaw, academic lead at early years childcare provider Busy Bees, which commissioned the research in line with its Bee Curious curriculum, said: "Children's natural curiosity is one of the most powerful tools they have for learning about the world around them.
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"From wondering where the sun goes at night to why their shadow doesn't run away, children's questions are the foundation of their development.
"Our expertly developed curriculum uses playful teaching to spark children's natural curiosity, it supports learning in key areas such as communication, language, and problem-solving, grounded in the science of how children learn best through exploration and discovery.
"By encouraging curiosity both at nursery and at home, we can inspire a lifelong love of learning in children – and give parents the joy of sharing in that journey."
The study also revealed that 57% of parents reckon their tots are so inquisitive because everything is a novelty to them, while 43% believe they're simply trying to spark a conversation. Almost a third (31%) understand that their little ones might just be seeking reassurance in a big, confusing world.
However, nearly all respondents (99%) agreed it's crucial to foster curiosity in children, according to the figures from OnePoll.com. Parents have been bombarded with peculiar questions from their toddlers such as 'if I eat a seed, will a plant grow inside me?' and 'why do we have belly buttons?'.
Nearly a quarter (23%) have been asked if it's possible to touch a rainbow, and 20% have been quizzed on whether birds ever lose their way. Questions about health and the human body are most likely to stump parents of toddlers (18%), followed by enquiries about how everyday items function (17%).
When faced with tough questions, over four in 10 (45%) parents have sought help and guidance from ChatGPT or other AI tools. A whopping 86% confessed to having learnt something new purely because their child asked them a question, and 78% said a query has completely changed their perspective on something.
Jenny Shaw, representing Busy Bees, which is inviting parents to their open days, stated: "Each question helps children to make sense of the world, and we celebrate that endless curiosity by turning it into opportunities for discovery and growth.
"That's why we've launched our online Curiosity Camp, giving families fun, practical ways to explore together – from imaginative play to creative crafts – so parents can see just how powerful curiosity is in supporting their child's development."
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