How to Enhance Curiosity in Early Childhood: A Curiosity Toy Kit

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dc.contributor.authorKwan, Michelle
dc.date2023-05-18T01:22:48.000
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-22T23:38:23Z
dc.date.available2023-05-22T23:38:23Z
dc.date.issued2021-08-01
dc.date.submitted2021-09-11T16:21:26-07:00
dc.description.abstractCuriosity is a universal and malleable positive character strength. It has been linked to physical, social, emotional, and psychological well-being, academic success, and success in adulthood. Curiosity is especially important in early childhood because this is a critical stage of development when children’s curiosity is still abundant and organic. But for all its value, curiosity remains under-recognized and under-studied. There is no universally agreed upon definition of curiosity in adults or children. As a result, the research community has varying opinions on how to define, measure, and enhance curiosity. And in many current day classrooms, an overly rigid top-down structure contributes to a disconcerting trend of diminishing curiosity as children grow older. Reviewing the scientific research across various fields, I describe seven psychological constructs (attention, novelty, solitude, inquiry, exploration, surprise, and awe) that can foster curiosity behaviors. I designed a Curiosity Toy Kit incorporating these seven curiosity components to be used as positive interventions for enhancing curiosity in early childhood, when children are 5-6 years old and entering formal education. Adults can use the Curiosity Toy Kit to encourage children to develop positive curiosity behaviors, helping them to flourish in school and beyond.
dc.formatLiterature Review
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/38867
dc.legacy.articleid1223
dc.legacy.fulltexturlhttps://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1223&context=mapp_capstone&unstamped=1
dc.source.issue221
dc.source.journalMaster of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Capstone Projects
dc.source.statuspublished
dc.subject.othercuriosity
dc.subject.otherchildhood curiosity
dc.subject.otherwell-being
dc.subject.otherpositive psychology
dc.subject.otherpositive education
dc.subject.othercharacter strengths
dc.subject.otherattention
dc.subject.othernovelty
dc.subject.othersolitude
dc.subject.otherinquiry
dc.subject.otherexploration
dc.subject.othersurprise
dc.subject.otherawe
dc.subject.otherDevelopmental Psychology
dc.subject.otherEarly Childhood Education
dc.subject.otherOther Psychology
dc.titleHow to Enhance Curiosity in Early Childhood: A Curiosity Toy Kit
dc.topicCuriosity, Positive Education, Well-Being/Flourishing, Character Strengths and Virtues
dc.typeDissertation/Thesis
digcom.contributor.authorisAuthorOfPublication|email:michelle.kwan210@gmail.com|institution:University of Pennsylvania|Kwan, Michelle
digcom.identifiermapp_capstone/221
digcom.identifier.contextkey24786120
digcom.identifier.submissionpathmapp_capstone/221
digcom.typethesis
dspace.entity.typePublication
relation.isAuthorOfPublicationf6f1b21e-4440-4f37-8d4c-72f6d95d2120
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryf6f1b21e-4440-4f37-8d4c-72f6d95d2120
upenn.schoolDepartmentCenterMaster of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Capstones
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