Make your child fall in love with science: Here’s how
Kids with a penchant for science are likely to grow up with a set of skills essential for thriving not only in the academic and professional spheres, but also in personal life. A science-oriented child has a curious mind with a natural flair for logical thinking and problem-solving. Though every child is not born with an aptitude for this subject, parents can be instrumental in making kids fall in love with science. Here are easy and fun ways to raise a science lover.
Engage kids in science experiments
This can be a fun learning experience for both of you. You can start by creating a science kit at home with tools like magnets, glass tubes, prisms, magnifying glass, measuring tape and rulers to start with. Plan easy science experiments with your school child to explore various concepts of science starting from electrical conductivity and the way magnets function to the way plants reach out for light.
Encourage free-play with various tools
Once the science kit is made, allow your kids to play with its tools begore initiating a project. Exploring them will help your child understand what all he can do with those tools and ensure a more efficient application during a science project. However, make sure that you supervise him as he plays along with the tools.
Allow them to explore beyond the classroom
If you actually want to raise a science lover, then it is essential to let your child engage in acts of exploration, even if they are messy. Don’t say no if she wants to build something with dirt and water or observe something that may make your household a little untidy.
Take virtual tours together
Making field trips to science centres and museums is another good idea to generate an aptitude for science in your kids. However, given the current pandemic scenario, virtual tours will be good enough. Visit the website of National Council of Science Museums to take your child through the virtual galleries of National Science Centre, Delhi, Science City, Kolkata, Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai and Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bengaluru among others. International tech and science museums that offer virtual tours include National Museum of Natural History, US, NASA’s Langley Research Centre, US, Oxford University’s History of Science Museum, and National Museum of Computing, UK among others.
Keep kids updated with latest discoveries
Inform your children about latest breakthroughs in science and technology in an age-appropriate manner. Subscribing to science-themed magazines and TV channels will be a great way to help your child develop a knack towards this subject. Watching Animal Planet, National Geographic and BBC Earth together with your little ones will ensure quality time as well. However, reading magazines and watching TV shows should be backed by interesting discussions about topics and concepts that these channels and magazines introduce your children to.
Seek out extracurricular activities
Sign your child up for a science club to help her delve into emerging subjects like robotics, coding, and artificial intelligence among others. This will not only provide her an environment for scientific exploration, but improve her social skills.