8 of 13

Write now Article Tools

At some point, children begin asking the question "why" incessantly. Though this can be quite frustrating to any parent, this is the beginning of Scientific thinking. Why are rainbows in the sky? Why do we have lightning? Why is beach water salty? All scientists begin with a QUESTION. What effect will this chemical have on cancer cells? Why does the rod attract lightning? How can we come up with different fuels for our vehicles that aren't costly?

The first way to help a child with Science is to encourage this type of thinking. It is wonderful for your child to question things in the natural world. Together you can find answers. Even the dreaded question, "Where do babies come from?" is a scientific opportunity for learning. Use the internet, books and home investigations to discover why things happen as they do. Before a trip to the Grand Canyon, my children and I made a mini-canyon out of a baking pan and dirt, with a steady stream of water. As your child questions the world around him, enourage him to make a hypothesis (and use this term!) as to why he thinks the cake in the oven rises, and then check out the science behind it ( a great mini-lesson on chemical changes).
Help your child build background knowledge. Ocean life, beach erosion, rock formation , and tides means so much more if your child has been to the beach. Collect shells, make observations concerning them. How are they alike and different? Take a hike, and collect leaves. What are the different parts of the leaves? Where is the stem? Why are some leaves fuzzy? A child who has never seen snow may not be able to relate to a solid (snow), liquid (water), and gas (water vapor). Even cooking allows opportunity to explain things like steam, yeast rising, physical changes (cutting vegetables), and other concepts. Dad can help by having the children help with home fix ups. What is a plane, screw, lever, pulley and other simple machines. Children can understand science so much more when they have been exposed to different experiences.
Approach home tasks with the scientific methods approach, as science facts can change (remember when Pluto was a planet?)but critical thinking does not. The method of scientific thinking is basically: Question something, form a hypothesis (guess), test it out, collect data, and form a conclusion. This could be as simple as ...I wonder if I can fix that flat swimming tube toy by plugging the leak with chewing gum.

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about How to help your child with science?
We want to hear your view. Write now!