It’s an innate ability that we all have.
Often in school and learning environment, curiosity is used as a reminder for people to ask questions instead of passing judgements and evaluations. What might have happened instead is that the condition of allowing and inspiring curiosity is overlooked.
On the 2nd grade’s field trip, when being invited to ask questions for the first time, kids were hesitant to do that. Not many hands went up. Once the children learned it was ok and safe to say what was on their mind (some of them were irrelevant to the topic even), the questions started to flow and the interactions became fun for everyone.
If we see natural curiosity as an outcome, the measure that we have created a condition to nurture, instead of a demand, people get to be themselves and learn more because connections that have happened lead everyone to lean in.
