"More than any animal, we search for causal regularities in the world around us. We are perpetually driven to look for deeper explanations of our experience, and to be born with...the desire to understand the world and the desire to discover how to behave in it." (Gopnik, 2001, p. 66)This is true for children and adults. The idea that children come up with their own theories to explain the world doesn't shock me. I used to teach Sunday school to kindergarteners. Each class was peppered with surprises and delights. I was always inspired by their energy, creativity, and ability to talk about things that were not in the least way related to what we were doing. Their curiosity is astounding. One particular memory I have is of a 5-year-old boy boldly asking another teacher if she had a boyfriend. No filter.
Somewhere along the way, as we grow older, I think the inquisitive nature dampens a little. I remember asking, "Why?" constantly as a child (so much so, it got on my mom's nerves). But, we must learn to be cohesive members of society. Sometimes it's better not to say exactly what's on your mind. We never lose the want to understand our place in the world though.
I think the world would benefit from more adults taking a child's approach when it comes to asking questions and forming connections with each other--uninhibited by the doubts and fears that plague us on a regular basis. "The creative adult is the child who survived." :)
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