The most common complaint amongst parents is the simple fact that their children do not listen to them. It seems every time you tell a child not to do something, their going to do it anyway. Why do you think that is? Perhaps their reason for not following directions isn't to far from yours.
Curiosity might have killed the cat, but that don't stop us from being curious. The same curiosity that caused you to read on, causes children to do things that their clearly told not to. If you tell a child not to touch something, there natural curiosity takes over, causing questions to fill the air. Why not, and what will happen, are just a few questions that ponder in their minds before they touch it to find out. And yet as parents we still get angry at them for not listening to us.
Is curiosity dangerous? Absolutely. There are countless numbers of deaths, and serious injuries each year, that happen as a direct result of curiosity. So how are we supposed to stop are children from being curious, and doing exactly what we tell them not to do? The answer isn't as complex as you might think.
First off, when you tell a child not to do something, you need to take the extra step, and tell them why it is in their best interest that they not do it. Explain in detail the dangers of not listening to you, and what could happen as an end result. If at all possible show them what you are explaining.
For example, instead of just telling a child to stay away from the stove because it is hot, show them how hot it is. Frying an egg is an easy way to show them just how hot the stove gets. If they still refuse to listen, then show them some photo's of serious burns that can easy be found online. This way instead of them be curious as to why you said to stay back, they will know.
So they did exactly what you said not to anyway, even after you explained why they shouldn't. If they suffered any sort of injury you should point out how it wouldn't have happened, if they had just listened to you. It might sound cruel to use this sensitive time to prove a point, but the next time you say not to do something, they'll remember the out come from the last time.
Curiosity is not a bad thing. In general it keeps life exciting, and is a great learning tool. The only way that you could possibly know the dangers, or outcomes of many things, is because either you, or someone close to you was curious about it. Face it, we're all just one big world of curiosity suffers. I hope this article has been a great learning tool for you.
The next time the kids don't listen to your directions, remember even you get curious, and that's what helped make you the wonderful person you are.
