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Why children stop asking questions — and what we're doing that causes it.
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
View all episodes
By Edwina CottinoChildren’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