How to Get Kids Interested in Science

As a parent, you are your child̵7;s first teacher, so it̵7;s your responsibility to provide opportunities for learning experiences. Learning about science -- or any subject for that matter -- does not have to involve putting a textbook in your child̵7;s hands. Kids learn through play and hands-on activities, which you can steer into the realm of science. By providing enjoyable experiences, children can gain an interest in science they never knew they had.

Instructions

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      Point out the ways you use science in your daily life. Turning on lights in your home uses electricity and the medicine you take for a headache came from a study of biology. Ask your kid if she can come up with examples of how she uses science throughout the day.

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      Perform ̶0;kitchen chemistry̶1; experiments. Observe an acid-base reaction when you mix baking soda with vinegar, or grow crystals from dissolved salt water. These types of experiments show your kid that science can be fun.

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      Watch your kids play and notice when they use scientific thinking. Many kids like to build towers with blocks, and you can watch how your child uses a problem-solving approach to make his tower higher. Bring this thinking to his attention by saying, ̶0;I like how you build the base wider to support more blocks on top.̶1; If your child struggles with building a tower, you can prompt him with some possible solutions to encourage critical thinking.

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      Look at science, health and technology sections of the newspaper or online magazine. Read some articles together -- discuss what the article is about and ask your child what he thinks about the topic.

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      Take a walk and make observations about the world around you. Ask your kid why he thinks leaves change colors in the fall or why days are longer in the summer.

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      Let your kids play with open-ended toys, such as interlocking blocks, which encourage your curious kids to find many ways to play. Since there is no one ̶0;right̶1; way to use these toys, your child can use her imagination and discover multiple purposes for an object. Trying to find out how things work is a foundation of science.

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      Ask your kid what he wants to be when he grows up. If he wants to be a doctor, talk to him about the human body and how it works. If you work in a science-related field, take your child to work with you or explain what you do at work.

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      Take your kid to the museum or find extracurricular activities that involve an area of science, such as a bird-watching group or a nature hike troop.

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      Take your child to the local library and help him find age-appropriate books related to a science topic. Your child can learn something new about science outside the home and even entertain himself for a while with books. Reading books might also give your child ideas about activities he can explore and topics he would like to research more.

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