CURIOSITY AND QUESTIONING: KEY TO DEVELOPING PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, EXPERTS SAY

By Ambrose Okai
Oyam

Experts and community leaders have emphasized that curiosity and questioning play a vital role in developing problem-solving skills in children.
This was the focus of the first week’s session of the 10-week parental and community engagement dialogue campaign, launched by the Foundation for Inclusive Community Help (FICH) in Oyam District.

Held at St. Peter’s Church Anyeke, Oyam Town Council, the session encouraged parents and educators to nurture curiosity in children, as asking questions promotes critical thinking and solution-building abilities.

A 2020-2022 assessment conducted by Uwezo Uganda and Action for Life Skills and Values in East Africa (ALIVE) found that while adolescents aged 13-17 demonstrated proficiency in collaboration, self-awareness, and respect but their problem-solving skills were suggestively low.

Kandi Alum, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) officer at FICH, said that the campaign’s objectives include raising awareness about the importance of developing problem-solving skills in children and strengthening collaboration among families, communities, and schools to create a more supportive learning environment.

She noted that when children ask questions and parents accommodate them, it plays a crucial role in helping them develop problem-solving skills. "When children ask questions and parents accommodate them, it plays a crucial role in helping them develop problem-solving skills," said Alum.
 
Participants at the first week’s session held at in St Peter’s church Anyeke, Oyam Town Council agreed that encouraging children to ask questions is essential for building confidence and analytical skills, helping them tackle challenges effectively.
 
Rev. Robert Ediga, Vicar of Oyam Archdeaconry, commended the campaign, stating that it will equip parents with the ability to effectively respond to their children’s questions, thereby nurturing curiosity and critical thinking.

“A topic that touches me is letting children feel free to ask questions, it builds their confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities yet many parents struggle to respond to their concerns effectively. The dialogue campaign is a crucial step toward bridging this gap, encouraging open communication between parents and children. By developing a supportive environment, parents can strengthen their children’s ability to navigate challenges, preparing them to become critical thinkers in the future,’’.  

Jenifer Aloyo, a resident of Nursing Quarter in Oyam Town Council, shared that the engagement has helped her understand the vital role curiosity and questioning play in developing problem-solving skills in children.

“Key lesson from the dialogue campaign is understanding how parents can simplify information flow between themselves and their children. Being friendly encourages children to ask more questions, promoting curiosity and learning. Additionally, providing guidance and counseling helps children navigate challenges, equipping them with problem-solving skills,”

Stella Anyango, a community leader in Oyam town council said that the dialogue should empower parents to listen to and correctly respond to their children’s questions to bridge information gaps, particularly as children begin to experience body changes.

“One major factor leading to school dropout especially among girl children is body changes once parents distanced themselves from children. So I request fellow parents to stand by our children so that if they are going through tough times, they can be open to parents then the parents advise accordingly. I know the 10 weeks engagement will have impacts on both children and parents when what is learnt is practice,”

Findings from recent studies indicate that lack of guidance and information contributes to high dropout rates, especially among adolescents. The findings highlighted Contributing factors as poor academic performance, failure to cope with school, lack of social skills to cope with life’s challenges, early employment, early pregnancy, lack of parental care and role models and drug abuse, poverty among others.