How can parents encourage their children interest in science

One way in which parents can encourage their children to be interested in science is to explain the scientific process (or the scientific method).

One way in which parents can encourage their children to be interested in science is to explain the scientific process (or the scientific method). The scientific process is what scientists do when they ask scientific questions and answer them through observations and experiments.

Step 1: Ask a question

For the first step, help your child formulate a question; where possible, one that can be answered! Good questions start with question words: How, what, when, who, what, why or where. For example, which cup has the greatest capacity? Which of these four objects do you think will float in the water?

Step 2: Investigate the topic

For young children, researching the topic can include a conversation between them about what they will ask. Maybe you have a book or have seen a program on the subject. The objective of this stage is to encourage the scientist in the task of thinking.

Step 3: Develop a hypothesis

A hypothesis is just a good guess that tries to answer the question in step 1. Ask your child: "Which cup do you think has the most capacity, blue or red? Do you think the nail will float or sink? Do you think the aluminum foil can float or sink? "

Step 4: Test your hypothesis by doing an experiment

This is the part you and your child have been waiting for! Help your scientist perform the experiment. Encourage your child to be an attentive observer of everything that happens. Talk about the steps of the experiment. "First, we fill our jar with water, then pour the water slowly into the cup."

Step 5: Analyze the data and draw a conclusion

This stage is about the results. What happened during the experiment? Ask your child: "Did aluminum foil float or sink?" "Which cup had the greatest capacity?" At this stage, help your child answer the question in step 1.

Step 6: Share the results

Encourage your child to talk with his siblings and other people who care about the experiment. Have him discuss the steps used to perform the experiment and what he has learned.

Science experiments can be quick and fun to do at home. If you share the scientific process, your child will begin to think and plan as scientists do.