Science is a fascinating subject as it defines the world around us, and even ourselves as human beings.
Children often find science particularly interesting, especially when they get to do cool experiments in school.
If your child has shown a particular aptitude for the subject, you might want to explore this further; or perhaps they just love learning about the world, in which case it’s always beneficial to foster their passion.
To help your child embrace the world of science, here’s some tips from a prep school in St Albans.
Join a science club
Your child will study scientific subjects at school, but you can help them expand on their classroom-based learning by enrolling them in an after-school or weekend science club.
Not only will they get the chance to explore their passion, they’ll also make new, like-minded friends away from their normal social circle. They’ll probably also have the opportunity to bring theoretical science topics to life through completing a project or conducting experiments.
They can then take this new knowledge back to the classroom to enhance their academic skills in this area.
Explore everyday science
Science is all around us every day, so there are plenty of chances to discuss it and see it in action. You could take your child to a natural history museum to look at fossils and learn about prehistoric animals, or visit a science museum to explore space and the universe.
You don’t have to go on a day trip to learn more about science though; simple activities like baking a cake, doing DIY or taking a walk in nature provide opportunities for scientific learning and discovery.
When baking, talk about different states of matter, and while you’re out on a walk discuss the seasons and how plants survive and grow.
Encourage curiosity
Scientists are curious about the world and like to answer questions about it, so encourage your child to constantly question things and think about what’s going on in the world around them.
This will get your child into problem-solving mode and prompt them to find solutions using scientific reasoning. Start with specific areas of science they’ve shown interest in, and find a problem to solve or just spend some time looking into it in more depth.
You’ll know what your child is particularly interested in because they’ll probably ask lots of questions around it, so foster this passion by giving them the chance to apply it in real life.
You never know – your child might become a scientist when they’re older as a result of you giving them the chance to explore their scientific interests.