Why Science For Children?
Children are the nation greatest potential asset. Science for children allows them to grow up being able to be decision makers, a skill that sets them up for learning with understanding. Children will become writers, doctors, scientists and all most anything they set their mind too. Children are constantly learning all the time. So it is important that any effort and potential, put into science for children will enable them to fulfil their potential an investment for future generations.
The Importance of Science for Children
We know that the first 5 years of a child’s life is important. They become independent little people with the curiosity to learn and discover things. The foundations for learning are created and their critical thinking skills and creativity blossom. A child’s personality and direction in life takes shape during this time. By including science for children as a key learning area they will begin to show that they can connect the reasons that things happen in the world as they notice them.
Hands on Learning Engaging in Science for Children
So let’s look at some simple ideas that you can help your child to engage and have fun. Providing hands on manipulative materials and activities in a kids science project. Most things which you already have in your home, which need not involve any expensive costs at all. You can provide effective learning materials so that everyday life becomes an experience.
Depending on the age of your child you will need to guide and judge what experiments that you will introduce when it comes to science for children. So here are a few ideas to get started.
Water Play Idea – Ice and water
What you will need – Cup, ice and warm water
Instructions – Fill the cup with warm water to the top (be careful not to bump the cup and spill any), and then gently add ice cubes to the cup.
Watch the water level when the ice melts.
What Happens?
Conversation – Discuss this process with your child.
Note: The ice will not change the level of the cup as when the ice melts. This is due to when the water freezes to make ice it expands and takes up more space than it does when liquid water. The water from the ice takes up less space than ice. When the ice melts the water level stays about the same.
Painting – eye dropper experiment
What you will need – small jar (baby food size), 3 eye droppers, paper towel, empty container, jug of water and 3 food colourings red, blue and yellow.
Instructions – fill the jar with water. Let your child fill the eye dropper with coloured paint and squeeze a drop into the jar. Continue to add different colours.
Conversation – Talk to your child as they engage in the activity. Support and extend their questions, like, what colour is this? What colour does red and blue make? These are all questions that support their discovery of learning.
Note: Empty the jar for new discovery any 3 colours will turn water brown.
Science for Children Engages a Thinking Child
If you can inspire science for children and help them find love and learn science, you will no doubt support them to develop solid foundations and perceptive. A thinking child is one who questions ‘why’ things are the way they are. They ask many questions and continue to repeat themselves, until they are happy with the answer. As a parent if you create a positive environment where your child feels that they can ask questions and they will be heard, they will feel the value in their discovery learning. This can be both an enjoyable time for your child and you together. Remember a child’s experience is the wonder of life and through these experiences they make the connections they need. So switch on your child’s inquisitiveness to learn today!