New survey reveals how parents handle their children’s interests and astounding questions

Catching bugs and making small houses for them, obsessions pinch nan doorway stopper, and a fascination pinch elevators and really their buttons activity are immoderate of nan astir absorbing curiosities today’s youngest children have, according to caller research.

A study of 2,000 parents of children ages 0-6, looked astatine immoderate of their astir unsocial interests and revealed that immoderate find that their kid is astir fascinated by nan earthy world.

This includes things for illustration rainwater, worms, nan weather, and specifically “extinct fish,” while different children’s interests are much nuanced, specified arsenic knights and drums.

Interests aside, parents find that their child’s funny quality comes done successful different ways. On average, parents navigate 46 questions per day, though they find themselves without an reply 35% of nan time.

That’s nary astonishment considering immoderate of nan questions they field. Results uncovered immoderate of nan strangest ones, including: “If clip had a smell, what would it smell like?”, “How agelong tin a hippo tally faster than an elephant?” and moreover “Where do dreams spell erstwhile we aftermath up?”

Most often, parents’ first guidance to these questions surrounds wherever they came up pinch them (52%), while others activity retired nan reply pinch their kid (42%) aliases find immoderate accusation connected their ain (27%).

This whitethorn beryllium because much than 9 successful 10 parents polled (91%) opportunity that it’s important to promote their child’s earthy curiosity and interests.

Still, parents find themselves saying “be careful” an mean of 27 times per time and “don’t touch that” an further 25 times.

Conducted by Talker Research connected behalf of Lightbridge Academy, nan study explored really parents are trying to locomotion nan statement betwixt keeping their kid safe while still fostering their innate curiosity and resilience.

Almost each genitor (97%) underscores nan value of their kid knowing why they told them to “be careful.” More than half (55%) person that speech instantly pursuing nan incident, while different 30% travel up wrong a fewer minutes.

Yet almost 2 successful 5 parents polled (38%) admit they often dishonesty awake astatine night, worrying astir really they handled things and whether their kid understands their explanation.

For astir parents, that “why” aligns astir intimately pinch trying to thief their kid build safe habits (57%).

For different parents, telling their kid to “be careful” is conscionable a gut aliases reflex guidance (45%) much than it is because of existent threat (34%).

“Today’s parents are juggling a lot,” said Gigi Schweikert, CEO of Lightbridge Academy. “It’s nary concealed that they interest astir their child’s safety, 75% of parents opportunity they’re concerned connected immoderate fixed day, yet these well-meaning instincts whitethorn unintentionally inhibit nan curiosity and resilience they’re hoping to instill successful their children.”

Nearly each parents polled (97%) would picture their kid arsenic curious, and 71% of those would spell truthful acold arsenic to opportunity their kid is “very curious.” Another 77% would moreover judge that their kid is much funny than they were astatine that age.

When they were increasing up, parents polled astir often heard nan building “because I said so” (61%).

Only astir half (49%) admit they had a affirmative guidance erstwhile they heard this response.

But today, approaches are changing. Only 22% often opportunity “because I said so,” and “be careful” (71%) is nan astir common.

This displacement is for nan better, arsenic three-quarters of parents polled study affirmative reactions from their child.

“Even earlier they’ve stepped into a classroom, parents tin spot early sparks of curiosity and productivity successful their children — passions that tin 1 time turn into early careers,” said Schweikert. “In fact, 92% of parents opportunity it’s important for their kid to create STEAM skills, which tin beryllium nurtured successful countless ways. By encouraging exploration and hands-on learning, parents are helping raise nan adjacent procreation of resilient thinkers, innovators, and scientists.”

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 parents of children ages 0-6; nan study was commissioned by Lightbridge Academy and administered and conducted online by Talker Research betwixt Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, 2025.