Fifteen preschoolers were scattered on the carpet, and one of them had just asked that question. The one about the Bible story I had tried to avoid.
My first instinct? Go ask your mom.
But I knew better. If one child was wondering, the rest were too. I could rush past their curiosity or I could sit in it with them. My comfort wanted the first option. Their formation needed the second.
So with a quick prayer and carefully chosen words, we dug in together.
That moment taught me something I keep relearning: children’s questions aren’t interruptions to faith. They’re invitations into it.
What Is Holy Curiosity?
Have you ever mistaken someone’s questions for doubt? Or felt like they were trying to outsmart you, like a TV interrogation designed to prove you wrong? Sometimes curiosity gets a negative label because it makes us feel unprepared. Not enough. But 99% of the time, young children’s curiosity isn’t out to get us.
God designed little ones to wonder. Their questions come from interest, confusion, and a desire to understand more. Curiosity is a posture of humility that says, “I don’t know enough. Help me discover more.”
As adults, we often fear the phrase “I don’t know.” But children say it boldly with every question they ask. And they ask a lot of questions.
Why Curiosity Matters for Faith Formation
According to neuroscience, joy activates learning. In an article called “Neuroscience and the Joy of Learning,” the team at Learnlife wrote, “It is joy and discovery, play and curiosity, safety and connection which helps knowledge connect.” By following young children’s curiosities, we discover what they want to learn and what brings them joy. But curiosity does more for faith than spark joyful learning. It builds ownership, creates resilience, and invites connection.
Curiosity Builds Ownership
When children explore their own questions and discover answers, faith becomes personal. It’s no longer just something handed to them by parents or church. It’s something they’ve lived and learned. Curiosity strengthens what others have told them and gives them the opportunity to know it for themselves.
Curiosity Creates Resilience
Doubt will come. When it does, a child who was encouraged to ask questions will have the skills to work through, wrestle with, or simply sit with those doubts. But if children don’t feel safe having questions now, they may not know what to do or who to turn to later. Fear of judgment can stop them from seeking guidance when they need it most.
Curiosity Invites Connection
Our triune God created us for connection. A child’s curiosity is a bridge inviting us to learn together, whether we’re exploring creation, Bible stories, or deep theology. And when children feel safe enough to bring their questions to us, our relationship deepens. We become a living picture of God’s design for community.
Through listening to and valuing children’s curiosity, we learn with them, through them, and from them.
Practical Shifts for Ministry Leaders and Parents
How do we move from understanding the benefits of curiosity to actually embracing it in our ministry?
In Joshua 4, God led the people of Israel to create a memorial of stones, partly to spark curiosity. Children would ask about the stones, and those questions created opportunities to tell stories of God and his mighty works.
Here are four simple shifts to help you create an environment of curiosity in your ministry or home:
1. Listen and respond. When children ask questions, pause. Give their curiosity time and attention. Whether you know the answer or not, try “I wonder…” or “What do you think?” Sometimes that’s all the response needed.
2. Create space. Build in time for questions without rushing. If children aren’t asking, they may be holding back. Safety takes time to feel, and wondering out loud may need to be modeled before the floodgates open.
3. Model your own curiosity. When you notice something in a story that makes you wonder, say it out loud. This shows children that questions are welcome and safe. When you model curiosity, young children feel better about theirs.
4. Celebrate questions. When children ask questions, celebrate. A high-five, a prayer of gratitude, an affirmation. Questions mean kids are engaged and eager to learn. That’s worth celebrating.
An Invitation to Curiosity
One of the things I love about the story in Joshua is that it says, “when your children ask” (Joshua 4:21, ESV). Children asking questions is a given. Even while wandering the desert. How many times do you think they asked, “Are we there yet?” God knew curiosity would come and created an environment to use it for faith.
This week, I invite you to try one small thing: listen longer, model your own wondering, or dig into a question you might normally skip. That’s a meaningful way to nurture young children’s faith.
If you want a resource to help you pause for wonder and wow, check out this free download here.
