How to raise curious kids in an age of change

Today’s world is changing rapidly. Technology has a given place in our daily lives, whether that being at home or in school. It’s not just a question of preparing our children for the future, but for the time they are currently living in.

"At Regents', we strive to create an environment where children are encouraged to explore, ask questions, and develop a lifelong love for learning—equipping them to embrace the future with confidence and resilience. As both educators and a community, we believe our greatest responsibility is not merely to teach facts, but to nurture curiosity and adaptability, ensuring every child is prepared for the ever-changing world ahead." explained Ms. Amos Turner-Wardell, School Principal at Regents International School Pattaya.

Ms. Amos Turner-Wardell, School Principal at Regents International School Pattaya, welcoming students to school together with Senior Leadership members.

Children’s engagement with learning isn’t always obvious to parents, and according to the researchers and authors Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, we can understand more about this by looking through the lens of four modes of learning that fosters curious children:

• Resister mode: This is when kids feel inadequate or invisible. They may disengage by ignoring homework, skipping class, or acting out.
• Passenger mode: Kids in this mode coast along, doing the bare minimum. They often struggle to connect their interests or goals with their learning.
• Achiever mode: This is when students appear engaged but are often too tied to their performance. They may fear failure and are at risk of burnout and mental health challenges.
• Explorer mode: This is the ideal state, where kids are driven by internal curiosity and pursue questions that matter to them. They persist in achieving their goals and develop resilience. Research shows kids in Explorer mode get better grades, are more motivated, and happier.

But what is the Explorer mode, the pinnacle of the four learning modes? It’s when children take initiative, set meaningful goals, and marshal resources to meet them.

As a Nord Anglia school we’re helping our students develop these skills through Nord Anglia’s global research into metacognition – helping them to understand how they learn best and use this knowledge to adapt their thinking styles to thrive in different situations.

Read the full INSIGHTS article here: How to raise curious kids in an age of change