The Hungry Mind: The Origins of Curiosity in Childhood

By Susan Engel, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, The Class of 1959 Director of Program in Teaching. Harvard University Press, March 2015. Children naturally possess an active interest in knowing more about the world around them. But what begins as a robust trait becomes more fragile over time, and is shaped by experiences with parents, teachers, peers, and the learning environment. This book highlights the centrality of language and question-asking as crucial tools for expressing curiosity. In addition to providing a theoretical framework for the psychology of curiosity, The Hungry Mind offers educators practical ways to put curiosity at the center of the classroom and encourage children’s natural eagerness to learn.