Rana El Chemaitelly shares her expertise on the subject of science. She is a leading entrepreneur in the realm of STEM education. Having founded The Little Engineer in 2009, she has become a voice of change while investing in young minds and empowering the women of her community.
Science for kids surely begins at home. When children grow up in science-friendly homes, they are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, experiment, explain their reasoning, read, write, create models and so much more.
Science is everywhere and directly and indirectly influencing all aspects of our everyday life. Once parents and children begin to see all the opportunities to learn, the relationship between science and critical-thinking, problem-solving skills become apparent.
Children are hands-on learners, and what they learn while they are young impacts their interests in life. Studies have shown that it is during elementary years that students begin to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Remember to never underestimate the power of learning through interesting stories and play since science also helps children develop their overall awareness and senses.
No child is too young to learn about science. Remember that science is cumulative, and children will build their knowledge from what they know. Make science fun by providing hands-on opportunities. Some easy ideas to discuss science from an early age at home include baking a cake, or simply observing an ice cube melt!
Explore, explore, explore! Nothing beats self-directed learning. Encourage your children to discover on their own and question their surroundings. As parents, we need to model curiosity by asking questions as well. If you are unsure about something yourself, research and learn the answer together with your child.
Create real-life connections, choose the right centre where the content is tailored to bridge the gap between theory and real-life applications. You can do so by considering your child’s personality and interests.
Science is all about trial and error. Children need time to try things out, experiment and think on their own. Allow your child the space and time to discover on their own. If your child makes a mistake, use it as an opportunity to help them refine their ideas by asking them questions rather than providing a solution.
Recording observations is an important scientific skill which can be taught by writing, drawing, or taking photographs. This will help children to keep track of what they saw, questioned, and discovered. If you see your child taking interest in any natural phenomenon, ask them if they would like to do any activity with you and record it via any of the above-mentioned tools.
Use materials available at home to answer questions and create curiosity. For example, during bath time, you can discuss the concept of floating or sinking with objects around them - "The rubber duck is floating, do you think the soap will float or sink?"
Research over the last 50 years has shown that young children are active and native science learners who, with the encouragement and support from adults, will eagerly explore, experiment with, and learn about the natural, physical, and social world around them.
To sum it up, Science is based on curiosity—and often holds the clues children require to better understand the world around them. We have beautiful books focused on science to help you introduce this important subject to your child!
