Oh Wow !

Reflections on retaining a sense of wonder in our children

One of my two-year-old granddaughter’s current favourite phrases is ‘oh wow!’ This phrase combined with a facial expression of pure wonderment and awe is used for a range of experiences: some new to her and some regular ones which are still deemed worthy of an outburst of amazement. Examples of this cover a range of seemingly ‘ordinary’ experiences. From seeing the six carriage Larkhall train snake into Hamilton West station through the visual and tactile admiration of a neighbour’s purple hydrangea to pointing to the skies with eyes like saucers when the giant Emirates A380 makes its last few miles from Dubai to Glasgow Airport.

A sense of wonder is a magical feeling. It is that sensation when something captures your imagination and paints the picture of the world in a new light. Whether it is stargazing, exploring a new place, or simply being amazed at the marvels of nature which surround us, wonder can make life feel special.

To be honest, the West of Scotland man that I am would be concerned if my granddaughter was still openly declaring ‘oh wow’ in 10 years but I want her and all children and young adults to retain an internalised sense of wonder. I hope enough interest and inquisitiveness remains to ask, for example, how the train stays on the tracks, how the hydrangea gets its deep purple hue and how the massive plane stays airborne.

How can we as parents and grandparents and more formal educators endeavour to achieve this sense of amazement when the wonder years of childhood end. This general notion of stoking and keeping a sense of wonder alive could be the key to successful general learning in a range of subject areas and at different ages and stages. I would argue that an inner ‘oh wow’ could be the foundation stone of a child’s successful learning journey.

Education can and should play a crucial role in helping children retain a sense of wonder. The kind of strategies for achieving this could include encouraging curiosity through allowing children to ask questions and explore topics that interest them. Inter disciplinary learning could be a powerful pedagogical tool in this area.

Secondly, providing children with opportunities for hands-on learning and experimentation can help them see the practical applications of their learning and keep the sense of wonder alive.

Making storytelling an integral part in our teaching can make lessons more engaging to pupils, helping them connect emotionally with the subject matter. I recall a long-ago conversation in autumn with an uncle of mine on a family Sunday afternoon walk. As the swallows swirled around us almost touching us, he sparked my imagination by simply saying that we would not see them next week as they would be heading back to Africa for the winter. My lifelong fascination with the wonder of animal migration started with those few words.

It is worthwhile considering the sense of wonder in yourself and what helps keep the flame of awe burning in you into adulthood.

It is important that teachers and other adults close to children also model a sense of enthusiasm and interest towards learning as this will rub off on the children, they are teaching, formally or informally.

Outdoor learning, including forest classroom initiatives can be powerful ways of engendering a lifelong interest and appreciation of nature. Perhaps this is why the David Attenborough programmes are so popular today.

Socrates declared that wonder is the beginning of wisdom, perhaps it is also the beginning of learning.

Right from early learning settings, open questioning together with built-in time to stop and stare and marvel at the beauty of the world in all its glory is vital to encourage wonderment. To answer the question “is that not that amazing”? with a simple yes or just a look of wonder is on many occasions all that is required.

We are born with an innate sense of wonder and from early education learning and experiences using our five senses in formal and informal settings can help us retain that the incredible gift.

Asking children to list fun facts about things that are covered in a lesson can see them build a deeper understanding of subjects they know little or nothing of.

Schenkel states that a vital aspect of education is to explore topics which are “beyond our comprehension, yet worthy of our attention.” By doing that often we can retain a sense of joy, interest, and awe and even inwardly in the twilight of our days exclaim quietly, ‘oh wow.’