Picture this: your kid points at a rainbow and asks why it glows. Your hand drifts toward your phone before you catch yourself. We’ve all been there. But what if that tiny pause—before we tap search—holds the secret to keeping wonder alive? Let’s talk about walking that tightrope together.
The Magic in ‘I Don’t Know’
Remember when your kid asked why stars twinkle and your brain froze? That instinct to grab your phone? Pause right there. How about whispering, ‘I’m not sure—what do YOU think?’ instead.
Here’s why it works: when we jump to Google the answer, kids miss the sweet frustration of not knowing. But when we stare at clouds together guessing, ‘Maybe it’s raining somewhere else?’, something shifts. Their eyes light up with possibility—not just facts.
And here’s the beautiful part: wrong answers become warm memories. Suggesting ‘the sun took a nap’ for why it gets dark? When dawn comes, you’ll laugh together over pancakes. In that moment, they learn that curiosity isn’t about perfect answers—it’s about the journey.
That’s the gift we give when we sit with them in the not-knowing.
It’s funny how AI handles ‘why’ questions now, but nothing beats the trust in their eyes when you say ‘let’s figure this out together’.
Turning Everyday Moments Into Explorations
Trade swipe-time for wait-time. When your child notices ants marching across the sidewalk, resist pulling up YouTube. Instead, point gently and ask, ‘Where do you think they’re going?’ Watch how their imagination takes flight.
Try this at home: while watering plants, wonder aloud, ‘Do you think they like warm water?’ At the park, notice shadows stretching and whisper, ‘Why do they grow longer as we leave?’ It’s slower than Siri, but the sparkle in their eyes when they whisper ‘Maybe it’s tired!’? That’s the glow we’re chasing.
Next time you’re browsing books, share a thought: ‘This ant book says they farm mushrooms—is that wild or what?’ Then later, when the neighbor mentions her garden, you’ll see their mind connecting dots. The real treasure isn’t the answer—it’s watching them learn to think.
What amazes me? When we admit ‘I don’t know’, kids dig deeper. That trust? It’s the quiet soil where curiosity grows roots. And speaking of trust…
Teaching Tech to Dance With Wonder
Phones aren’t villains—they’re partners in disguise. If your child Googles ‘why do butterflies fly’, lean in warmly: ‘What if we test that? Let’s watch them in the garden first.’
Ask playful questions to bridge the digital and real: ‘What would Grandma say about this?’ When they giggle ‘she’d tell beetle stories!’, they feel the heartbeat difference between screen facts and lived wisdom.
My favorite trick? Become ‘discovery detectives’ together. ‘If this is true, what clues might we find outside?’ Try catching rainbows in a spray bottle mist. It’s not about proving Google right—we’re building the muscle of how to wonder, test, and marvel.
Remember this when tech creeps in: it’s not a wall blocking curiosity. It’s just a stepping stone. And our job? To hold their hand as they climb over it—to see even further.
Ever tucked them in after a day of ‘why’ adventures? That quiet moment when you’re both still buzzing with questions? That’s the heartbeat of real connection.
Source: The Question All Colleges Should Ask Themselves About AI, The Atlantic, 2025-09-11