Fostering curiosity in kids (and their parents) since 2011

Posts by Shala Howell

“Is Florida faster than Boston or slower?”

We spent Christmas in Florida last year. As we were driving to the airport for our flight home, we started talking about time. Specifically, time zones and how they would affect our travel plans. On hearing that when it’s 11:15 a.m. in Boston, it’s only 10:15 a.m. in Pensacola, Florida, The (then) Four-Year-Old asked: “Is Florida faster than Boston or slower?”

“How long can jellyfish sting after they are dead?”

Last Christmas, when The (then) Four-Year-Old was surveying Panama City Beach for a likely spot to construct a landing pad for Santa and his reindeer, she came across a jellyfish. Naturally I panicked. “Don’t step in that! It might sting you!” The (then) Four-Year-Old, practically: “But it’s dead.” “Doesn’t matter, it can sting anyway.” The (then) Four-Year-Old, curiously, “How long can jellyfish sting after they are dead?”

“What happened to the Mayflower One?”

Yesterday morning, as we were planning our itinerary for the summer, I asked The Five-Year-Old if she would like to go visit the Mayflower in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Naturally, she would. She was disappointed to hear that the ship we’d see was just a replica, Mayflower II. “What happened to MayFlower One, Mommyo?”