| There are so many ways to encourage a love of | | | | does the moon seem to change. How far away is |
| science in your child. Children are naturally curious | | | | the sun? Camp out for lunar eclipses or to watch |
| about everything around them, and science is a | | | | meteor showers. Study the seasons and why the |
| natural outlet for them. You and your child will both | | | | leaves change colors in the fall. |
| enjoy some of the following activities. | | | | Study the human body and all the major organs and |
| Lead your child in using the scientific method to solve | | | | systems: bones, muscles, nerves, digestion, and skin. |
| everyday problems, from resolving conflicts with a | | | | Learn about reproduction from conception to birth. |
| brother or sister to explaining who is leaving | | | | Learn about germs and viruses and how the body |
| toothpaste in the bathroom sink every morning. | | | | fights them. |
| These are the five basic steps to the scientific | | | | Experiment with magnifying glasses, magnets, |
| method: one, state the problem. Two, form a | | | | cameras, pulleys, wheels and gears. When a child |
| hypothesis. Three, observe and experiment. Four, | | | | shows interest investing in a good microscope or |
| interpret the data, and five, draw conclusions. You | | | | telescope can be a lot of fun. Take things apart, like |
| may find yourself raising a regular Sherlock Holmes. | | | | a door knob for example, and see how it works. |
| Teach your child how to help you in the garden and | | | | Look inside a toilet tank and see what makes it flush. |
| yard. Let them learn how to use basic tools. You | | | | Before throwing a way an old radio or toaster, take |
| could perform experiments in the flower bed, such as | | | | it apart and see what you can learn about it. |
| observing and measuring how fertilizer improves the | | | | Do not worry that you have to be a scientific genius |
| growth of some of the flowers. You could create | | | | yourself to encourage your child in science. When |
| collections of insects, leaves, rocks, seashells or other | | | | they visit, ask other adults you know to talk to your |
| things. Set up a bird feeder and use a reference | | | | child about what they know, especially things like |
| book to learn the names of all the types of birds | | | | how they use science or math on the job. Go to the |
| that come to it. | | | | library and get all kinds of great science books |
| Learn about the weather and make weather, | | | | written on a child's level. Pay attention to what your |
| temperature and moisture observations. Where does | | | | child is learning in school. Learn together how to use |
| thunder and lightning come from? Learn about the | | | | catalogs and computers to find the answers to |
| stars, the moon and the sun. Find the answers to | | | | question you have. Most of all enjoy yourselves and |
| questions like why do stars seem to twinkle and why | | | | foster the natural curiosity in your child. |