Inspiring lifelong learning
We take questions and curiosity seriously.
We like to say that we “make apps for curious kids around the world.” But the truth is, we’re all born curious.
And hopefully, we stay that way. It not only ensures we keep learning and growing as adults but also: modeling curiosity is one of the best ways to cultivate it in the kids around us.
So we spend a lot of time thinking about how to spark curiosity in our apps and in ourselves. Here are some things we’ve learned:
1. Kids ask a lot of questions.
Some studies show 4-year-olds ask as many as 200 to 300 questions a day. Unfortunately, as soon as kids hit school age, that rate declines dramatically. But…
2. Asking questions is essential to learning.
It’s a good thing kids ask so many questions, so we design our apps to introduce kids to new ideas, not to just give them all the answers.
Learning a little bit about something is enough to inspire questions which leads to more learning, which leads to more questions. It’s the beginning of a habit-forming cycle for lifelong learning.
3. Curiosity is contagious.
When kids ask questions, they invite us to learn with them — we don’t have to have all the answers.
To help grownups answer some of their kids’ questions, every app in our Explorer’s Library series has a free handbook full of facts, resources, and activities for further learning.
4. When we ask questions, we push kids to think a little more critically.
When we play test our apps, we keep an eye on kids’ engagement and their parents. If parents also take an interest, it’s a good sign.
5. We can always ask better questions.
This applies whether we’re inquiring about what kids have learned or what the best part of their day was. The how, what, why, when, and where all matter.
