Helping your child find a love of science from a young age

As parents, we always want our children to be interested in learning. Learning leads to success which is what every parent’s dream is for their children. It is important to allow children to use their natural curiosity in them to explore the world and learn about things around them. But the question is how? How do we encourage our children to ask questions? To wonder how and why things came to be? To understand and appreciate how broad our world is? The answer to that is science. This is the best way to get your child in tune with their surroundings. Here is a guide advised by an independent nursery in Hertfordshire on helping your child find a love of science from a young age.

Make science a regular part of daily activities. Instead of getting your child to play with the same toys every day, introduce science experiments and hands-on activities that you know they’ll enjoy. Many websites and books include simple science activities that can easily be completed regularly.

Allow them room to explore. Many parents don’t like the idea of science activities as it involves a lot of mess. However, if you would like your child to become a science lover, you have to make a compromise. Scientists come from those who are curious and allow their curiosity to lead them to experiments, making a mess and trial and error. Allow your child to try things on their own. This could be them playing with materials in water or even mixing substances to see what comes out of it. Encourage this behaviour as it will lead to them developing a thirst for knowledge. Ensure they have dressed appropriately in the correct safety gear. Allow them to feel free to make mess both indoors and outdoors so they can explore as much as possible.

Take them to science camps. This is a place for your child to get hands-on learning with the right equipment and trained professionals. It is an opportunity to take part in activities that they might not be able to do at home or school which is a great way for them to understand the complexity of science. Science camps bring together hundreds of people who are like-minded and can have a positive influence on your child. Through this, learning becomes fun and can lead to your child making lifelong friends.

Take them outdoors. By walking through nature on hikes, you will be fuelling their curiosity about the world around them. This is the best environment to get their minds wondering and figuring out scientific questions of their own. Hiking can lead to questions about photosynthesis, the way a plant lives its life. There will also be chances to see birds, insects and a whole array of habitats. Find resources that help answer your child’s questions, they will appreciate you for that.

Keep them up to date with the latest discoveries. Children love to know about how the world works such as how day and night are possible and how the Earth came to be. Add onto these fascinations by letting them know when scientific breakthroughs have happened in their lifetime too. Documentaries and news articles can be fantastic ways to help your child understand the discoveries made.

The bottom line is, that curiosity will drive your child to find their love for science. As a parent, create the best environment possible for your child to feel comfortable making their discoveries. Answer their questions and encourage their curiosity about the world. It requires some patience and a lot of cleaning but is so worth it in the end.