Blooming Curious

They have screens. They have toys. They have activities. And yet — they trail you around the house saying 'I'm bored.'

In this episode I unpack:

● Why having access to everything is making children less able to entertain themselves — not more

● The neuroscience of genuine curiosity and why screens can't replicate it

● What boredom is actually communicating (it's not what you think)

● The gift of the unoccupied afternoon — and how to make it work

● How your own curiosity is the most powerful teaching tool you have

References:

Gruber, M. J., Gelman, B. D., & Ranganath, C. (2014). States of curiosity modulate hippocampus-dependent learning via the dopaminergic circuit. Neuron, 84(2), 486–496.

Kashdan, T. B., & Silvia, P. J. (2009). Curiosity and interest: The benefits of thriving on novelty and challenge. In S. J. Lopez & C. R. Snyder (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (pp. 367–374).

Dent, M. (2003). Saving Our Children from Our Chaotic World. Pennington Publications.

Episode #87 — Why Your Child Needs Boredom and How to Use It as a Teaching Tool

🆓 Download the 24 Screen Free Activities HERE

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

🆓 Download the FREE lesson plan for I Went Walking HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Why Kids Say Bored

01:19 Digital Native Paradox

02:56 Curiosity vs Dopamine

04:50 Rethinking Boredom

06:42 Unstructured Afternoons

08:08 Nature School Story

09:36 Be the Curiosity Spark

10:19 Practical Next Steps

11:09 Free Activity Download

11:43 Closing Thoughts

In this episode, I'm looking at two of the oldest — and most overlooked — educational philosophies out there: Classical education and the Charlotte Mason method. I work in a Classical school, and the more I learn about it, the more I realise that the oldest approach to education and the most progressive share exactly the same starting point: wonder.

We're talking about who Charlotte Mason actually was, why homeschoolers love her, why mainstream education almost never mentions her, and what her ideas about living books, narration, and nature-based learning can do for your child right now — whether you homeschool, teach in a classroom, or just want to raise a child who genuinely loves to learn.

If you've been feeling like something is missing from your child's education, this episode is for you.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Who Charlotte Mason was and why her 19th-century ideas are more relevant than ever
• The core principles of Classical education for early learners (K–2)
• Why Classical education and Charlotte Mason are far more aligned than most people realise
• What "living books" are — and why they work where textbooks don't
• How narration builds deeper understanding than any test ever could
• Why mainstream education never talks about Charlotte Mason (and why that's a real loss)
• How a single high-quality picture book can teach English, maths and science
• How going on a nature walk with a child is one of the most powerful classrooms in the world

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide HERE

🆓 Download the FREE lesson plan for I Went Walking HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Wonder Over Worksheets

00:51 Who Was Charlotte Mason

01:52 Why Schools Ignore Her

02:55 Classical Education Explained

04:06 Inquiry Is Ancient

05:37 Living Books In Action

06:58 Narration And Retrieval

08:23 Bring It Home Today

08:57 Free Lesson Plan Offer

10:10 Go For A Wonder Walk

10:42 Final Encouragement

The number one concern teachers have about inquiry learning isn't time, or curriculum pressure — it's control. In this episode, we talk honestly about why that fear makes complete sense, what "losing control" actually looks like in practice (versus what we imagine), and the four simple structures that make inquiry learning manageable in any early years setting. Whether you're brand new to this or you've tried it and it didn't quite land, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do differently.

In This Episode:

· Why the fear of chaos is completely valid — and what's really behind it

· The crucial difference between productive noise and actual chaos

· A real classroom example: floating and sinking, two ways

· The four structures that keep inquiry learning contained and purposeful

· Why starting with just five minutes is enough

· How to use Wonder Time, Think-Pair-Share, and simple thinking frameworks in K–2

🔗 Teaching tools and graphic organisers HERE

🔗 Complete picture book lesson plans with inquiry component seamlessly included HERE

🔗 Inquiry Learning resources HERE

🎧 Listen to this episode on how to transform wonder questions

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity with 10 plug and play curiosity starters HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Fear of Losing Control

01:21 Chaos vs Structure

02:52 Productive Inquiry Example

03:57 Four Structures Overview

04:22 Clear Entry Point

04:56 Roles and Norms

05:42 Thinking Frameworks

06:33 Strong Lesson Close

07:21 Start Small With Inquiry

08:48 Resources and Wrap Up

What does learning actually look like when children are genuinely curious? In this episode, I share real classroom stories — from gifted learners who'd switched off, to children who'd come to see school as a place of failure — and explore what changed when curiosity was given space to lead. We also look at what the research says about interest development in the early years, and why the brain is uniquely receptive to curiosity-driven learning right now.

In This Episode:

• The classroom moment that shows what curiosity-led learning really looks like in practice
• What a 2023 study on interest development in early childhood tells us about authentic engagement
• The story of a gifted learner who rediscovered his love of school through self-directed projects
• How a child who struggled found confidence and took risks when given something she truly cared about
• What changes for literacy, numeracy, and wellbeing when children are genuinely interested
• Simple starting points — for teachers and parents alike

Research Mentioned: Van Aswegen, E.C. et al. (2023). The impact of interest: an emergent model of interest development in the early years. Early Child Development and Care. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2023.2245575

Mentioned in This Episode / Related Blog post:

https://bloomingcurious.com/blog/post/step-by-step-integrated-inquiry-teaching-guide

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity with 10 plug and play curiosity starters HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Curiosity Led Classroom

00:58 Morning Learning Snapshot

01:54 Research Behind Curiosity

04:01 Why Curiosity Fades

04:48 Project Time For Gifted

06:52 Project Time Builds Confidence

08:42 How To Start Inquiry

09:07 What Changes In Learning

11:25 Try It At School And Home

11:59 Free Guide And Farewell

Children’s curiosity and fascination with the world is declining. Children are asking fewer questions. This loss of curiosity can be due to depleted dopamine, as referenced in NIH-where they identified contributors such as excessive screen time, sleep deprivation, poor high-fat/high-sugar diet, low sunlight exposure, and rare genetic disorders. Research suggests low dopamine manifests as impulsivity, inattention, fatigue, poor mood regulation, and stimulation-seeking. Edwina argues solutions include removing screens in early childhood, increasing outdoor free play and boredom, raising curricular challenge and expectations (with praise for device-free classical education), and moving away from compliance-based worksheets toward narration and recitation to check for understanding and build mastery.

References:

Children's Health in the Digital Age

How Curiosity Enhances Hippocampus-Dependent Memory: The Prediction, Appraisal, Curiosity, and Exploration (PACE) Framework

Get the free e-guide with 10 plug-and-play curiosity starters.

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Curiosity Is Declining

00:40 Dopamine And Curiosity

02:24 Symptoms We See Today

03:35 Curiosity Needs Effort

05:17 Cut Screens Early

06:47 Get Kids Outside

07:21 Bring Back Challenge

10:07 Beyond Worksheets

10:45 Recitation And Narration

12:10 Free Guide And Farewell

RE-RUN of a popular episode: You became a teacher to light a fire in kids — not to tick boxes. But somewhere along the way, the curriculum took over, the kids started zoning out, and you're left wondering if there's a better way.

Spoiler: there is.

In this episode we talk about why curiosity isn't just a lovely classroom add-on anymore — in a world where AI can write, calculate and analyse faster than any of us, it may be the most important skill we can nurture in our students.

We cover:

• What educators are really struggling with right now (you are not alone)
• Why kids who only know how to memorise and recall are already being left behind
• The human skills AI can't replicate — and how to start building them
• How to bring curiosity into your classroom without overhauling everything you do

Plus grab the free Curiosity Bundle — 10 plug-and-play curiosity starters, a short e-guide, and a ready-to-go integrated lesson plan. Download both below:

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

🆓 Download your FREE lesson plan HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 The Struggles of Modern Teaching

00:19 Survey Results: Teachers' Frustrations

01:23 The Turning Point in Education

02:00 The Importance of Curiosity in the Age of AI

03:35 Introducing the Curiosity Bundle

04:23 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Are bright colours and fast-paced screens harming your child's development? In this episode, we take a close look at what the research says about children's media, classroom colour, and why beauty matters more than we think.

There's a reason the old Disney films, the gentle pace of Heidi and Little House on the Prairie, and those exquisite hand-illustrated picture books felt so different from what children are watching today.

Studies show that just nine minutes of fast-paced cartoons can measurably impair a four-year-old's ability to focus, self-regulate, and solve problems. And it's not only screens — research on classroom environments finds that heavily decorated spaces with competing bright colours actually lower children's academic performance and increase disruptive behaviour.

Whether you're a parent, an educator, or both — this one will make you look at your child's environment differently.

🔗 Links and research mentioned:

• The Substack article that sparked this conversation: The Colours of Childhood: Bauhaus, Crayola and the History of the Ugly Primary
• Blogpost and FREE download - How to Create An Inspiring Indoor Learning Environment
• Lillard & Peterson (2011), published in Pediatrics — fast-paced TV and executive function in 4-year-olds
• Fisher et al. (2014) — classroom decoration and children's academic performance
• PMC study on colourful play surfaces and preschooler disruption (Ksantini-Hovev & Sebba)

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 From Bambi to Bright Noise

00:52 Why Beauty Matters

01:11 When Childhood Looked Softer

01:57 How We Got Garish

03:18 Fast Screens and Focus

04:25 Cocomelon vs Calm Stories

05:21 Color Overload in Classrooms

06:56 Muted Tones and Calm Minds

07:18 Beauty as a Necessity

08:40 Create Calmer Spaces

09:13 Subscribe and Farewell

Are your students refusing to start? Struggling to focus? Disinterested in learning?

In this episode, we explore a powerful but often overlooked truth: lack of focus is often a lack of curiosity.

Instead of choosing between structure (classical education) and engagement (inquiry learning), what if the real solution is combining both?

In today’s conversation, I break down:

• Why children disengage in the first place
• How Classical education and Inquiry-based learning actually complement each other
• How to spark curiosity without creating chaos
• Practical strategies for K–2 teachers to increase focus and participation

If you're tired of behaviour charts, constant reminders, or children refusing to do the work — this episode will give you a calmer, more effective way forward.

🔗 Sign up for the mini course Curiosity Without Chaos

🔗 Read the blog post HERE

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Why Kids Disengage: It’s Not Laziness, It’s Lost Curiosity

02:05 Traditional vs Classical vs Inquiry: What’s Missing When We Separate Them

02:51 The Sweet Spot: Combining Classical Structure + Inquiry to Ignite Focus

04:12 6 Steps to Spark Curiosity (1–2): Rich Content & Ask Before You Tell

05:03 6 Steps (3–4): Teach Explicitly After the Spark + Keep Tasks Purposeful

06:06 6 Steps (5–6): Protect Cognitive Load & Build Focus with Narration

07:12 Wrap-Up + ‘Curiosity Without Chaos’ Framework & Final Thanks

Feeling like your students have lost curiosity and focus?

If you’ve been noticing more disengaged students, shorter attention spans, and a lack of enthusiasm for learning, you’re not imagining it.

In this episode of Blooming Curious, I’m sharing what I’ve seen change over my 14+ years teaching early childhood, and the exact strategies I use to re-engage children, spark curiosity, and bring learning back to life — without adding more to your workload.

Because here’s the truth: Most children aren’t “naughty” or disengaged on purpose. They want to succeed. They want to please. So if they’re switched off, something deeper is going on.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Why many children struggle with curiosity and focus more than ever before

✅ The difference between passive learning and active learning

✅ Why hands-on learning is the missing ingredient for engagement

✅ How to use a simple “hook” to instantly pull children into learning

✅ How to plan curiosity-led learning without overwhelm

✨ Want to learn how to do this consistently?

🔗 Sign up for the mini course Curiosity Without Chaos

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Why Kids Seem Disengaged (and What You Can Do About It)

01:16 The Big Shift: Hands-On Learning Beats Passive Screens

02:31 Strategy #1: Ditch the Worksheet Default—Make Learning Memorable

04:45 Strategy #2: Use a Curiosity Hook to Pull Them In

06:06 Strategy #3: Keep It Simple—Engagement Without Extra Work

06:37 Curiosity Without Chaos: Mini Course + Resources & Next Steps

08:02 Wrap-Up: Stay Curious (Subscribe & See You Next Time)

Teaching kindergarten is a little bit like herding cats… but this week gave me two moments that reminded me why curiosity-based learning works.

In this episode, I’m sharing a real behind-the-scenes reflection from my first week back teaching kindergarten, and how two small moments (acorns + a daytime moon!) turned into powerful inquiry opportunities.

We talk about:

If you teach early years and you want to keep children engaged without worksheets, pressure, or overwhelm, this episode will give you practical inspiration you can use immediately.

✨ Want to learn how to do this consistently?

🔗 Sign up for the mini course Curiosity Without Chaos

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✨ If you value curiosity, deep learning, and hands-on teaching, don’t forget to subscribe and follow for weekly inspiration.

✍️ Sign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious parents and educators HERE

💌Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by Buying me a Coffee. Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Introduction and First Week Back

00:41 Avoiding a Rookie Mistake

01:24 Joyful Moments with Acorns

04:01 Curiosity About the Moon

05:03 Encouraging Everyday Curiosity

06:07 Conclusion and Next Steps

06:58 Closing Remarks and Call to Action