I’m often asked by parents what advice can I give them to…
““I’m often asked by parents what advice can I give them to help get kids interested in science? And I have only one bit of advice. Get out of their way. Kids are born curious. Period. I don’t care about your economic background. I don’t care what town you’re born in, what city, what country. If you’re a child, you are curious about your environment. You’re overturning rocks. You’re plucking leaves off of trees and petals off of flowers, looking inside, and you’re doing things that create disorder in the lives of the adults around you. And so then so what do adults do? They say, “Don’t pluck the petals off the flowers. I just spent money on that. Don’t play with the egg. It might break. Don’t….” Everything is a don’t. We spend the first year teaching them to walk and talk and the rest of their lives telling them to shut up and sit down. So you get out of their way. And you know what you do? You put things in their midst that help them explore. Help ‘em explore. Why don’t you get a pair of binoculars, just leave it there one day? Watch ‘em pick it up. And watch ‘em look around. They’ll do all kinds of things with it.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Children are naturally curious; adults should step back and provide tools for exploration rather than impose restrictions.
In simple terms: Kids are curious; give them space and tools to explore.
Key Takeaway
Provide resources and let kids discover.
Themes
education
curiosity
parenting
science
freedom
Mood
hopeful
inspirational
reflective
Type
advice
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- home science projects
- museum visits
- nature walks
- providing simple tools like binoculars
- encouraging questioning
Key Concepts
Developmental psychology
constructivist learning
intrinsic motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create low‑risk environments for exploration?
- What restrictions might be stifling a child’s curiosity?
A Different Perspective
Adults may fear mess or cost, limiting opportunities for discovery.