How to Help Your Child Find a Love of Science

Science is such a diverse subject, from exploring nature or space to understanding how chemicals react with one another. It’s a fantastic subject for developing a child’s curiosity and generally just help them understand how the world works. It’s also great for helping them become better investigators and problem-solvers. With that said, many parents are often looking for ways to help their child find a love, or at least an interest, in science from a young age. Here are some tips from a private college in the UK…

Talk About Science

Try and find opportunities to chat about science related topics with your child, so that they become more familiar with different concepts and learn how important science is with regards to everyday life. For instance, if you have a friend or relative who has recently recovered from an illness, you could ask your child what they know about the immune system. If there’s a forest fire or a hurricane or something similar happening overseas, talk about what causes them. The more you talk about science, the less intimidating it will feel to your youngster.

If your child is a little older and approaching their GCSEs or A Levels, you could chat to them about the different career options that will become available to them if they have science-related qualifications, as this might help inspire them. 

Get Outside

Take a walk through your local forest or park, or even just spend some time in the garden, as there’s so much to learn and explore. You could build a bug hotel or a bird feeder together and use binoculars or a magnifying glass to monitor the wildlife in your garden. Another idea is to plant some seeds and encourage your child to take care of the plants so that they grow. This will help them learn about what plants need to survive. 

Set Up Experiments

Children are natural quite inquisitive and setting up some safe science experiments at home will help cultivate this curious nature and encourage them to figure out how things work. You could drop different objects into water learn whether they sink, float or become soggy. You could also try the Mentos and Coca Cola experiment, why dropping a sweet into the drink and watching it erupt like a mini volcano. Science experiments are a great way to learn but are also fun for all.