Curiosity Is How We Learn
While in college, professors would often tell their class when preparing them for their ‘turn’ to speak before the class, that aside from knowing their subject, it’s often helpful to find someone in the classroom to ‘speak to’. It helps with focus and ‘stage fright’.
Quite unintentionally, I am a very animated listener. It is not a deliberate behavior any more than while I’m speaking, my hands (and often my arms) are moving at the same time. It’s just how I talk—even while on the telephone and the person can’t even see me!
When someone is speaking, even a speaker I do not know, they may see me frown significantly when I am saddened, my forehead furrow when I question something or am confused, and grin largely when I understand and totally get what they are trying to tell me and others in the room. I’ve had more than several speakers approach me after they’ve finished and surprisingly thank me for letting them know where I stood while they were speaking.
When speaking in front of a group of people, I enjoy when finished, answering questions my listeners may have. Sometimes it may be a curiosity question, other times, it’s because they want clarity, to understand something specific, better. It’s up to me to respond to their question with as much simplicity and accuracy as possible, without making the person feel as if the question were ‘stupid’, since in my opinion, there is no such thing as a ‘stupid question’ if you don’t know the answer.
There are occasions in many of our days where we may have reason to interact with a person who has a disability. As adults, we should be able to communicate kindness, inclusion, respect and certainly equity, human to human.
Children however, haven’t necessarily acquired the tactfulness, hopefully we adults have gained through our personal experiences. Depending on the situation a child may never have seen a person in a wheelchair, with a prosthetic, a missing limb, or other kinds of disabilities. Often their reaction is to stare and ask the accompanying adult, ‘What is wrong with…..?”
While the child has no intention of harm or disrespect, often times, the bluntness of his question can make others uncomfortable. What’s worse is when the adult, rather than just answering the question with understanding and kindness in the simplest terms to impart knowledge, will sharply instruct the child to be quiet and mind his own business. This response implies every kind of harmful connotation, and something to absolutely avoid, because it’s bad!
Being curious is normal. It’s how we learn about our earth, what makes the weather do what it does, how a motor makes a vehicle go, how food grows, and why rivers travel in certain directions and a thousand other ideas in science! In a nutshell, it’s how we learn!
Many who have a disability are happy to answer questions if they are asked politely and kindly! But it’s important to remember they may not want to discuss their disability and may seem put off by the questions. Be cognitive of body language, both yours and theirs.
It’s vital to respect a person who chooses not to be ‘chatty’ about their situation, which is personal; any more than you would want to share information about your health with a perfect stranger. And certainly, it’s important to respect any medical equipment present, as an ‘extension of their person’ and is not to be touched unless directed (or permission given) to do so.
Curiosity is good, especially if it can help us understand others and even ourselves. Everyone wants to receive a measure of kindness and people, to share their lives with. Having a disability does not change that. It can change, however, how we, as outsiders—as those without a disability —react, respond and teach our young ones about treating others with respect, understanding, equity, and common curtesy.
Photo Credit: A Child's Curiosity
Photo Credit: Questions, It's how we learn