Getting children interested in science and other STEM* fields ( STEM is an acronym for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math) is one of the biggest educational challenges parents face. Many are afraid of science themselves and believe they will bore their child and make them uninterested in the field. However, that’s not the case if you approach learning science in a fun and imaginative way.
All children are naturally inquisitive and use their curiosity to learn new things. No field is as accepting of curiosity as science, which rewards that willingness to explore. It’s never too early to teach science to kids and you don’t have to wait until your child’s school begins STEM learning.
Research has shown early development of fundamental STEM skills can improve a child’s wider learning capabilities and pave a way for better educational results in the future. When kids are faced with a tough challenge, they will often avoid it to remain in a comfort zone. That’s a problem in early science learning because adults too can be worried about this field.
As a parent, you should try to push aside your own concerns about the difficulty of science. Yes, science can get complex, but at its base it is both simple and exciting to learn. There’s no doubt if you tap into your child’s natural wonder then you can make learning science fun.
Not least because the scope for learning science is almost endless and the educational frameworks are not within a defined box.
Below are some tips to make science learning enjoyable for your child:
Questions are Important
In many ways, the entire field of science is built on questions. Someone asks a question and then looks for a way to answer the question through solving problems. That means questions in science are unbelievably valuable and should not be ignored. Children are question machines and will ask you dozens of questions each day. Pay attention to what your child is asking you and look to answer in the best way possible, even if it means you need to head online to answer “Mommy, why is the sky blue?”
Answers are Just as Important
You need to answer questions, but simply giving your child an answer may not further the scientific processes. A good way to engage your children early in STEM subjects is to work with them to find answers. That may be as simple as Google searching and reading answers together. A simple “I don’t know the answer to that, let’s find out together” can be a powerful tool in early education.
Invite Curiosity
Curiosity is perhaps the biggest learning tool your child has. This is the way a kid will learn almost anything, from an innate program that means they inquire about most things. It does not take a lot to get those curious juices flowing in a child, so pay attention for situations when you can bring out this inquisitive nature. For example, during a walk in the park, drop remarks like “did you know trees need sun and water to grow” and wait for the certain flow of curious follow up questions that will come from your child.
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