Curious Kids and Patient Parents: How Asking Questions Fuels Learning and Bonding

A father and son went fishing one day. After a couple of hours out in the boat, the boy suddenly became curious about the world around him. He asked his father, "How does this boat float?" The father thought for a moment, then replied, "Don't rightly know, son." The boy returned to his contemplation, then turned back to his father, "How do fish breathe underwater?" Once again, the father replied, "Don't rightly know, son." A little later, the boy asked his father, "Why is the sky blue?" Again, the father replied, "Don't rightly know, son." Worried he was going to annoy his father, he says, "Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?" "Of course not, son. If you don't ask questions, you'll never learn anything!"

The father indirectly reveals that he is innocent because he never asked questions like his son. He realizes this truth at a later stage, but he encourages his son to ask questions. If the father doesn't know the answers, his son can put these questions to others and get answers, which will make him curious, and he will start searching for answers to other questions too. I appreciate the father's straightforwardness. The father may not be knowledgeable, but he is true to himself. He also doesn't want his son to be like him. He doesn't want to deny a bright future for his son.

A Real Father Indeed!

A trainer needs to be like that father. A trainer may not have had the opportunity to know and learn. But if others want to know, experiment, and find out, he should encourage it!

Regards,
M.J. Subramanyam, Bangalore

Experience and Knowledge

The father is expected to know at least simple things based on the number of years of his experience. Here, it shows that the number of years alone will not count for experience.

Regards,
N. Satyanarayanan