Consultant: Robert Brooks, Ph.D.

You're watching the news with your 8-year-old when she suddenly asks, "Why are there so many starving people in the world? How come grown-ups don't do more to help them?" The sophistication of these questions catches you off guard and you struggle to offer an intelligent answer. Your child's increasing concern with life's broader, more abstract issues certainly keeps you on your toes.

By the time a child turns 5, the extent to which she expresses her innate curiosity has been greatly affected by how it has been nurtured thus far. Wise, sensitive parents help a kindergartner trust the world enough to explore it freely and without trepidation.

Then, curiosity continues to evolve throughout the grade-school years. At age 5, for instance, a child's questions center on herself and her immediate surroundings. On a clear autumn day she may ask, "Why are the leaves all falling down?" If Mom is having another baby, the child may want to know, "Where do babies come from?" or, "Am I going to have a sister or a brother?" If her pet parakeet dies, she might ask, "Where is my bird now? Is she in heaven?"

Between ages 6 and 8 a child's world and her ability to think about it expand beyond what immediately affects her. She becomes curious about something she heard in class or on a news broadcast and then draws a connection to her personal life, asking questions such as, "How far is Kosovo from here?" or, "Do children get hurt during a war?"

Beginning around age 9 or 10, children develop the ability to think in much more abstract terms than before. They may puzzle over concepts such as where the universe ends or what infinity means. In addition, children become more focused on interactions with others, so curiosity takes a social turn with musings in the nature of, "What can I do that will make other kids want to be friends with me?" Empathy becomes more advanced at this stage, so children are increasingly able to see situations from a perspective that's not their own. This can lead to curiosity about others and their needs, provoking questions about people who are homeless or have a disability.

How to Fan Kids' Wonder
You may not have as much control over your grade-schooler's environment as you did when he was younger, but you can still spur his curiosity. Hone in on his interests by spending weekend time together at the science museum or community theater. Explore a mutual interest by taking a pottery or bird-watching class together. Or plan a vacation trip that will incite his and your inquisitiveness—a dinosaur dig, a journey to your ancestral homeland. Then show that you're willing and eager to listen to his questions and help find the answers by saying something like, "You know, that's a good question. Let's investigate it together."

One of the best things you can do to nurture the curious urge in your child is to show him your inquisitive nature. Let him see your passion for reading about and researching various topics of interest in books, in newspapers, in magazines, and on the Web. And just as you may have a desire to explore on your own, respect your child's need to fly solo. Developing curiosity depends in part on unstructured, private time—time for children to daydream, explore, and independently investigate the world and their understanding of it.

• At age 5 children entering school are curious—and anxious—about the newness of it all. To free your child's wonderment, point out colorful new signs or interesting trees on the way to school and tell her about things that you know will interest her in the classroom, like the reading corner or art area.
  
  
• At age 7 kids begin to venture out on their own—into the neighborhood on their bike or to a friend's house for a sleepover. Help your child manage new endeavors in small stages by talking in advance about prospective experiences. Then congratulate your young achiever on each small victory.
  
  
• At ages 9 and 10 children open up to interests in ecology and multiculturalism. Provide ways for your child to explore worldwide wonders: Help her become involved in conservation projects; encourage her to research the different ways that kids live in other parts of the world.

Consultant Dr. Robert Brooks, Ph.D. is an assistant clinical professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Lynne S. Dumas's latest book is Help Me, I'm Sad (Viking), a parents guide to coping with childhood depression. She lives in New York City.