Does Your Child Have Innovators DNA?

A typical 4 year old child has tons of curiosity. They ask endless questions and constantly wonder how and why things work.

Unfortunately, over time (and a very short time at that!) this curiosity is dampened severely. By the time children are 6.5 years old, they stop asking questions. Why?

A recent interview with 2 professors in the Harvard Business Review titled, How Do Innovators Think?, offered some answers.  A six year study showed that there are five “discovery skills” that distinguish innovative thinkers from the rest. We are born with all of them. Unfortunately, without proper attention, the skills are all but extinguished by the time a child is just over 6 years old.

Kids stop being innovative thinkers once they learn that their teachers value correct answers over provocative questions. High school students rarely show inquisitiveness. And, we know what happens in the corporate world, unless you work in an innovative company (80% of executives spend less than 20% of their time discovering new ideas).

During this interview, Professor Gregersen stated:

We also believe that the most innovative entrepreneurs were very lucky to have been raised in an atmosphere where inquisitiveness was encouraged. We were struck by the stories they told about being sustained by people who cared about experimentation and exploration. Sometimes these people were relatives, but sometimes they were neighbors, teachers or other influential adults. A number of the innovative entrepreneurs also went to Montessori schools, where they learned to follow their curiosity. To paraphrase the famous Apple ad campaign, innovators not only learned early on to think different, they act different (and even talk different).

Innovation and creativity are the powerhouses of our economy and vibrancy. So, when your child is asking yet another question, please take the time to offer a thoughtful response and acknowledge her wonderful curiosity!

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