For questions about how to explain scientific concepts to children or get them interested in science. Use [research] if you want answers to be backed up by scientific evidence.
Questions tagged [science]
14 questions
40
votes
12 answers
How to answer my 4-year-old asking where she was when I was small and how she got in my tummy?
My 4-year-old daughter knows that she was in my tummy and then the doctor took her out. She saw my childhood photos and asked me where she was at that time.
She has also asked me how she got in my tummy. She cannot understand the meaning of "not…
Aquarius_Girl
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35
votes
12 answers
How can I explain to my son why sunlight will hurt his eyes?
My 30 month old son asked me why people's eyes will hurt if one stares at Mr Sun. I told him the sun shoots sunlight, which is not visible and not touchable. But it exists and is made of atoms just like other things we can see. If it hits our eyes,…
kenneth
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29
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19 answers
How do you explain to a five year-old what energy is?
The other day I told my son to not waste hot water, as it is a waste of energy. He then asked what that is. I want to explain it well, also from a physical point of view, since I find it important. What shall I tell him?
Update:
Thank you all very…
Rainer Glüge
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16
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6 answers
Preventing anti-STEM bias especially with girls
Both of my children love science, and my wife and I have encouraged this in our children.
However, at a recent school activity fair the representative for a science oriented group (robotics if I remember correctly) spoke to and gave an activity to…
COL Wotohice
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8
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3 answers
What is the science on preteen kids playing moderate (less than 9 h /wk) video games?
What are long term effects of preteen kids playing moderate video games? Or is it the same as any screen time?
The axes I'm most interested in are
competitive vs cooperative,
screen time vs video game time (passive vs active),
playing together…
Travis Well
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6
votes
5 answers
What kind of controlled safe scientific experiments can be conducted on a baby?
I have a 3-month-old baby and I was wondering what kind of controlled and most importantly, safe home-made scientific experiments I can do with my baby to understand his development, his behavior and his learning curve at different stages of growth.…
Adolfo Perez
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6
votes
1 answer
Are there proven practical benefits from teaching music to children?
It is very common for parents to try and teach a musical instrument to their children. But are there any practical benefits from doing so? Statistically speaking, 99.9% of all kids will never end up with a career in music and playing instruments…
JonathanReez
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6
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2 answers
How to explain scientific concepts to a curious 3.5-year-old?
I have a 3.5-year-old who seems to be a bright spark (I know every parent thinks this :). She is asking:
What is water made of? (answered rain)
What is air made of? (answered gas like steam coming out of the
kettle but different)
What is straw made…
lindsaymacvean
- 171
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4
votes
3 answers
How to encourage my 5-year-old who seems to be unusually interested in astronomy?
My almost 5-year-old son has developed a great interest in astronomy since last few months. I show him pictures of planets in books and videos on YouTube. He asks me to point out planets in the night sky which I do (incorrectly as I don’t know where…
Jay
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4
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1 answer
What do I do to get my daughter interested in presenting her science experiments at the science competition(fair)?
In my state we get the primary school aged kids (8-12) to enter a State Science competition. (In other states and countries - the equivalent may be a school science fair.)
My daughter (9) has some interests in science. She has:
tried lots of…
hawkeye
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4
votes
3 answers
As soon as I say the phrase 'science experiment' my six year old daughter turns up her nose - what do I do?
I grew up doing science experiments with my Dad, in a kind of playful exploration. My wife and I are both 'sciencey' people (Software Engineer and Civil Engineer).
I'm trying to create an environment where my daughter feels positively about science…
hawkeye
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4
votes
3 answers
Explaining Thunder/Lightning to a preschooler
I have a very intelligent three (almost four) year old who has a mixed relationship with thunder and lightning (see an older question from me, for example). He likes seeing it, but is also afraid of both. Part of this stems from probable sensory…
Joe
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3
votes
7 answers
Explain to a 4-year-old how magnets work
My 4-year-old daughter would like to know: "How do magnets magnet onto things?"
How can I explain this at a level she can understand?
(I'm asking this here rather than on physics.SE because this is fundamentally a how-to-explain-to-my-children…
A E
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1
vote
1 answer
Interesting things for a child's drawing board
I've got a board that's going to be used as a "messy board" for drawing, painting or whatever else kids do that you wouldn't want them doing directly on your table.
I want to put interesting things on it that will subtly introduce her to geometry,…
BanksySan
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