If you’ve been feeling exasperated by the lack of curiosity and focus in the children you teach, you are not alone.
Over the past few years, I’ve seen a clear change in children — right in front of my own eyes.
And in this post, I want to share what I’ve learned over 14+ years teaching in early childhood, and the three strategies I use to re-engage disengaged students and bring curiosity back into the classroom.
Because here’s the truth:
These are not “naughty” children.
These are not children who are disengaged on purpose.
Children want to please. They want to succeed.
So when they’re switched off, there’s something else going on — and it’s our job to respond with strategies that actually work.
Why Are Students So Disengaged Lately?
There are many factors, but one thing is clear:
This generation of children has had more exposure to screens than any generation before them.
And screens train children to be passive.
They sit. They watch. They consume.
But learning was never meant to be passive.
Learning is something children need to do.
Hands-On Learning Is the Key to Student Engagement
When I looked at disengaged children, I asked myself:
What can I do?
What will excite them?
What will intrigue them?
And what I discovered was simple:
Children love getting stuck into hands-on learning.
Hands-on learning is one of the most powerful student engagement strategies, because it turns children from passive observers into active learners.
And children are made for that.
Children Must Do the Work of Learning (Not the Teacher)
This is one of the biggest mindset shifts that will change everything:
We aren’t supposed to be doing the work.
Children must do the work of learning.
Think about it — even as adults, when we work towards something and achieve it, we feel satisfaction.
Children are exactly the same.
They want to create. They want to build. They want to try. They want to succeed.
And they feel proud when they can see the result of their own effort.
That pride is fuel for motivation.
Do Worksheets Create Real Learning?
Let me ask you something: Do you remember fondly anything you ever learned at school?
Do you remember those worksheets you filled out?
Now, I’m not saying worksheets should be banned forever. There is a time and a place for them, and sometimes they are necessary.
But worksheets should never be the default.
Because worksheets are rarely what children remember — and they’re rarely what makes learning meaningful.
What I Remember From School (And Why It Matters)
When I think back to my own childhood, I have no fond memories of filling out worksheets.
In fact… I have no memories of them at all.
But I do remember:
- knitting a cover for a coat hanger
- making pom-poms with a fork
- growing beans on a windowsill and tracking them every day
- watching them climb higher and higher
- examining a tapeworm in high school biology (yes, truly!)
- art lessons where I created something with my hands
Why do I remember these? Because I was doing the learning.
That’s what sticks.
So here are 3 strategies to engage children and get them excited about learning.
Strategy #1: Use Hands-On Learning to Re-Engage Students
The first strategy is simple.
Teach concepts through hands-on learning whenever possible.
Children understand more deeply when they can touch, build, create, test, and explore.
Hands-on learning helps children:
- stay engaged for longer
- build deeper understanding
- remember concepts more clearly
- feel proud and motivated
- enjoy learning again
If you want curiosity in the classroom, this is the foundation.
Strategy #2: Use a Hook to Spark Curiosity in the Classroom
The second strategy is something I use constantly.
Start with a hook.
A hook is something that pulls children in. It creates wonder. It makes them ask questions. It makes them lean in.
A hook could be:
- a living critter
- a close-up photo (macro shot)
- a “gross” insect picture
- a movie clip
- a piece of text
- a newspaper article
- a strange object
- a story starter
It can be anything. The point is: it sparks curiosity.
I once brought in a little felt penguin. It was actually a Christmas decoration — nothing fancy at all.
It had one flipper.
But that one little penguin became the start of a story.
The children began brainstorming: How did the penguin lose its flipper? Was it bitten by a shark? Did it get stuck? Was it born that way? Did it survive a storm?
And then, naturally, the learning flowed into:
- penguin habitats
- what penguins eat
- where they live
- different types of penguins
- storytelling and language
One simple hook sparked so much curiosity-led learning.
Strategy #3: Keep It Easy (Or It Won’t Be Sustainable)
The third strategy is essential.
It has to be easy for you.
Teachers are overwhelmed. Homeschool parents are overwhelmed.
There is so much to get through — and the reality is, nobody has time to add more to their workload.
So if curiosity-based teaching feels like “extra”… it won’t last.
That’s why the strategies I use are designed to become part of the fabric of teaching — not another thing on the to-do list.
Curiosity-Based Teaching Without Overwhelm
This is what I want for you and for all educators:
- engaged students
- fewer behaviour issues caused by boredom
- less teacher stress
- more joyful teaching
- simple lesson planning
- curiosity built into everyday learning
Because once children are engaged, teaching becomes joyful.
Curiosity Without Chaos: A Mini Course for Teachers
I took the strategies I’ve used successfully in my own classroom and put them into a mini course called:
Curiosity Without Chaos.
Inside the course you’ll get:
- tools and strategies to engage students
- templates to make planning easier
- guidance for hands-on learning
- ways to create hooks and provocations
- a system for curiosity-led learning without overwhelm
If you’re ready to bring back engagement and joy, this course will help you get there.
👉 You can find Curiosity Without Chaos HERE.
If you’d like simple strategies, encouragement, and practical tips each week, you can subscribe to my newsletter below.