Why is that man running Papa? Kids have all kinds of questions. They want answers. Not about who won the war of 1812 or who the 22nd President was or the name of the capital of South Dakota. Think about their questions and we will be able to think more clearly about education and school. Here are some I have heard: How can I figure out what is going on here? This doesn’t seem right; how can I improve it? Something I care about (or someone) may be in trouble; how can I protect them? I want this; how can I make the other guy agree to what I want? I want this to exist; how do I go about putting it together? How do I figure out what is going on and make it easier? What is this stupid rule for anyway? What happens if I ignore it? This is a mess; how can it be reorganized? Something new is needed; how do I design it? How do I get to be the center of attention? This stuff is broken; how can I fix it? Kids have questions. Shouldn't school be about answering them? We can build entire curricula intended to let kids wallow in the things that actually concern them. I am asking for help here; What other questions should be here? I am looking for kids who are obsessed with a question and would like to build a learn by doing online curriculum under our guidance.
My middle child, age 13, keeps trying different kid business ventures. He wants to know what people will pay for that he could make/do and what will earn the most money. My youngest, age 11, wants to know how every mechanical thing we own works and what will happen if he adds something, removes something, changes wiring, etc. He experiments with various machines and tools when we aren't looking. Both of their interests correspond with many of the questions you posed above.
Most of the questions listed are problem-solving questions (i.e. How questions). I found online a set of open questions for kids: https://happyyouhappyfamily.com/questions-for-kids/
I think the biggest question kids have is 'how can I be cool?'. Turns out, this is also one of the biggest questions adults joining organisations have (they just use grown-up words for it). It's important, because being laughed at/bullied/ disrespected is one of the most horrible things that can happen to a person and affects every aspect of their success. It's also important because depending on who you respect, it shapes your career. We're not very good at answering real questions in education. So kids go to TikTok instead; the kids are fine, but we're in trouble.
No, school shouldn’t be about answering kids’ questions. Rather, school should focus on preparing kids to succeed in a free society, and helping them to one day maintain a free society, by teaching them what is good, true and beautiful.
These are great questions that (should) apply to adults doing their jobs just as well. We want people to ask questions and seek improvement as much as we want people to be able to do something. On the questions part, my 8y old regularly asks about things he might be able to do when he is grown up and if he can earn a living with that... I always feel that is a really relevant question.
Consider the Montessori method.
My four year old recently put me to the test asking “What’s a question?”
This topic has also reminded me of the Tony Buzan TEDx Talk about mindmaps and his observation that children naturally are “pure scientists” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nMZCghZ1hB4
My smallish ones ask - Why does this smell/ taste/ sound/ look/ feel the way it does? Why does X make me feel like this/ that? How can I tell others about this feeling (if I don't have the words others will understand)?
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Depends on the age group however: How can I help protect the environment/reduce carbon footprint etc.? Why do people have to get their medical insurance or access to medical services through their employer? Why do they have universal coverage in Europe but not here?