| Do you know the 3 golden rules of teaching scientific | | | | objects they can shape or control are great. |
| concepts to your toddler? It's not as complicated as | | | | Remember that science is cumulative. To learn new |
| you think. You will know the golden rules for making | | | | concepts requires building upon what has been learned |
| your child a budding scientist once you read this article. | | | | before. The building blocks of learning science are in |
| Teaching science to your preschooler doesn't require | | | | every day experience, from watching animals like birds |
| an advanced degree. Rather, a willingness to learn with | | | | or squirrels, natural patterns like morning dew, ocean |
| your child and nurture their natural curiosity through | | | | tides, or the cycle of the sun and moon or in daily |
| guided activities will help your child to develop an | | | | activities like cooking and baking or using a washing |
| interest in the sciences and discover the world that | | | | machine and dryer. Your child can become a budding |
| surrounds them.Since science is based on observation, | | | | scientist through simple activities at home or around |
| children also form scientific "theories" to explain why it | | | | the neighborhood. |
| rains, why things drop when you let them go, why a | | | | 3. Keep it simple |
| ball rolls, and much more. | | | | Don't overwhelm them with a lot of bells and whistles; |
| Here are the golden rules: | | | | simple works best. Introduce a few ideas and focus |
| 1. Look at everyday things in new ways | | | | your attention on those. Find hobbies or activities |
| Help your child to understand basic scientific concepts | | | | based on your child's personality and interests, as well |
| by looking at things in new ways. Ask them questions | | | | as ones appropriate for where you live. Get her or him |
| about their playthings. For example, you could ask your | | | | to help pick out an activity. |
| child, "Do you think a ball could roll by itself?" or "What | | | | Modern science is a way of knowing the world, based |
| do you think makes a ball roll faster?" The thing is to | | | | on observing, classifying and organizing, predicting, |
| stimulate thinking about what she or he knows and | | | | testing, and making conclusions. Conclusions can be |
| how she or he knows it. So, what else can you do to | | | | modified when new observations are made. The cycle |
| get your child to go down the scientific learning path? | | | | repeats again and again, and is rooted in what we can |
| 2. Don't be afraid to "get dirty" | | | | observe with our senses. |
| Hands-on science activities, such as puzzles and | | | | |