Tip 119: Encouraging an enquiring mind

I read an article from FTfm (Financial Times weekly review of the fund management industry), “The truth in scandalous City Stories” by Jonathan Davis. I liked his insight when he said, “Some things remain constant. The requirements for successful investment, as opposed to winning the game of short-term performance, remain much the same: an enquiring mind, an ability to think for oneself, an understanding of the meaning of fiduciary responsibility and a degree of humility in the face of the market’s unchanging capacity to surprise.” I will be blogging on each of them in different posts, and would start by enquiring how an enquiring mind develops? I thought about Haruka’s development and recalled the questions Haruka first understood. It was where Mama? (as she look around when I asked her.) Using body language, I would point around to indicate location and finally point to Tomomi. While Haruka has not mastered all the question forms, I think they are internalized in the following order of complexity in understanding: Who, Where, What, How, Which, When, Why. Often times, a baby would have enquired the concept of some of these questions, but it is much harder for us adults to communicate these questions to the baby without a common language that both could understand. Even body language is a skill that the baby is learning as he/she observes human communication. Patience is thus necessary as daddy and mummy spend time to understand the mind of the baby and what the baby is enquiring about. Then, daddy and mummy could demonstrate that they are also enquiring the same questions. Through body language, these questions are articulated and introduced. There is thus a role for daddy to be encouraging such enquiring through actively participating in communication with the baby. This humble communication forms building blocks that shape the enquiring mind till it advances further through a university education where the child learns different philosophies, laws of different subjects and ways to solve different real life problems.





























I cherish the moments spent with Haruka when I look into her eyes and point at different objects and persons and taught her the concept of Who, Where and What. Initially for instance, Haruka would call Tomomi papa or me, mama as they understand the concept of parents being 1 person. With a lot of eye contact, body language and a smile, Haruka understands the differences very quickly. I tell as well as ask Haruka interesting objects that we see once I know she understands the word What. The word “How” is a little more difficult to teach, though Haruka through playing, learns how to unscrew a bottle cap, open boxes, turn on the TV and DVD. I have been starting to teach her the concept of Which recently. I said, “ice cream yes? mama yes?” (as mama walks away from the ice cream stall and I pointed at mama if we should follow her). Haruka nods ice cream yes, shakes her head for mama no. A lady can finally decide in 2 seconds! That’s papa’s girl. I have been wondering recently whether babies enquire the Why question at what age. “Rerum Cognoscere Causas”. That means to know the causes of things, the moto of London School of Economics (LSE). I was applying to study at LSE 6 years ago before I got another scholarship to do my MBA. The cornerstone of the advancement of knowledge is this, and it will be interesting to know how we can instill habits and a sense of curiosity in our kids. Do we as parents experiment with our babies, what it means to trap a fly in a cup, blow a balloon till it bursts and laughs at it. Does all this play expose our children to more occurences so that one day, they would wonder why these things happen the way they are. Should we wait till they go to a science class? I think it starts now and by mere eye contact and an interest to spend time with your baby, you can do wonders to his/her mind.















(If you like the above photo behind the ornamental gate, you would like this and this as you move your mouse around the virtual tour).














Anyone taught a baby under 2 years old the Why question? If not, when did your child first asked Why?

(Photos show bird's eye view of Oxford taken from the Carfax Tower which requires a walk along a 99 step spiral, hence I went up alone. See if you can spot Haruka and Tomomi in any of the photos. Also, All Soul's college and Radcliffe Camera along Catte Street encapsulating the wabi-sabi aesthetic/feeling of a revered English heritage.)