Encouraging Curiosity, Conversation, and Connection

The first five years of a child's life are an incredible time of growth. Over 90% of brain development happens before the age of five, which means these early experiences shape not just how children learn, but how they think, feel, and interact with the world.

For us, home education in the early years isn't about sitting at a desk and drilling facts. It's about encouraging curiosity, answering big (and sometimes ridiculous) questions, and creating an environment where learning happens naturally.

The Magic of Question Time

One of my favourite parts of our day is "Question Time." Every evening, before bed, my kids fire off their most pressing questions about the universe—some profound, some utterly unhinged:

• "Daddy, what's a thousand million, zillion, trillion times a thousand zillion zillions?"
• "Why do we dream? And why does it feel so real?"
• "If a cow went to space, would it still make milk?"

I loved spending this time with all my children (and my eldest still ask for the occasional question time... but it's not quite so innocent as it once was 😂).

Sometimes, I know the answer. Other times, we figure it out together. And occasionally, I'm left questioning everything I thought I knew.

But—some nights, Question Time gets a bit too much. That's when I reach for the Yoto player, put on Sleepytime Science or Sleepytime Stories, and let someone else field the hard-hitting questions and investigations of the universe.

Even Daddy has his limits.

How We Make Learning a Natural Part of Life

Children learn best when they're engaged and having fun, not when they're forced into worksheets and rote memorisation. Here are some ways we turn everyday life into learning adventures:

1. Learning Through Everyday Moments

Young children are naturally curious, so we use daily tasks as mini learning opportunities:
✔ Counting apples at the shop = Early maths skills.
✔ Cooking together = Measuring, patience, following instructions (and a lot of mess).
✔ Sorting socks by colour or size = Pattern recognition and categorisation.

2. Storytelling and Role-Playing

Books and stories are a huge part of our home education journey. Whether it's reading about kindness, emotions, or wild adventures, stories help kids make sense of the world.

✔ We act out stories with stuffed animals and puppets.
✔ We make up our own tales, letting the kids decide what happens next.
✔ We use books to introduce new ideas and start conversations about feelings, friendships, and challenges.

3. Visual Learning & Creative Tools

Some concepts are easier to understand when they're visual. We often create slideshow using Adobe Express to bring tricky topics to life—whether it's explaining how planets orbit the sun, why we need to share, or why the cat is not, in fact, a willing participant in science experiments.

I've also recently joined the Adobe Stock Contributor programme, and they've been eagerly watching my upload my latest works to my portfolio!

4. The Great Outdoors: Learning Beyond Four Walls

Nothing beats hands-on learning. Being outside sparks curiosity in ways no worksheet ever could.

✔ Nature walks become scavenger hunts—spotting bugs, identifying leaves, and asking endless questions about the clouds.
✔ Trips to the zoo, farms, and science museums bring learning to life.
✔ A simple supermarket visit turns into a budgeting, nutrition, and social skills lesson.

5. Encouraging Questions and Open Conversations

The best part of home education is that no question is off-limits. Instead of dismissing the tricky ones, we explore them together. If I don't know the answer (which happens a lot), we look it up, experiment, or just accept that some things are still a mystery.

✔ "Why is the sky blue?" → Let's learn about light refraction.
✔ "What happens if you eat a watermelon seed—will one grow in your belly?" → Time to talk about digestion.
✔ "Why do we cry when we're happy?" → Let's explore emotions.

This natural curiosity is why we home educate in the early years. It's about giving them the space to wonder, explore, and find joy in learning.

The Role of Parents in Early Learning

You don't need to be an expert to guide your child's education—you just need to be present. Some of the best things we can do as parents are:

✔ Be available: Even short bursts of focused time matter more than distracted hours. This is especially important when it comes to neurodiverse households (ADHD and ASD crew unite)!
✔ Model curiosity: When they see us excited to learn, they mimic that excitement.
✔ Create an environment for exploration: Books, toys, experiments, and plenty of time for unstructured play.
✔ Balance structure with freedom: Some days we follow a plan; other days, we just see where curiosity takes us.

FAQs About Home Educating in the Early Years

Your Turn

The early years are a golden opportunity to nurture a lifelong love of learning. Home education at this stage isn't about being perfect or ticking boxes—it's about showing up, being present, and making learning part of everyday life.

And if that means answering 42 variations of "What would happen if a dinosaur was alive today?" before bed, then so be it. (I like to tell them that chicken nuggets would be much larger, just in-case you were wondering)!

What's the wildest question your child has ever asked? Drop it in the comments—I need reassurance that my kids aren't the only ones breaking my brain every night!