I work in a research lab and know how to make science fun for kids. Here's how my family finds science in everyday life.
As research lab technician, I want to foster my children's love for science through fun activities.
We're big fans of age-appropriate science podcasts and silly experiments.
It's easy — and fun — to apply the scientific method or scientific inquiry to everyday life.
My own interest in science was sparked repeatedly throughout my childhood through activities like completing building kits with my dad, scuba diving, and various Girl Scouts workshops. Now, I'm a research laboratory technician and have worked in both the microbiology and developmental biology fields.
I want to foster a love of science in my children and to nurture their interests in all aspects of the world around us. That's why I frequently explore scientific concepts and perform experiments with my 3-year old daughter and 5-year-old son. These activities especially fascinate my oldest child and help me instill an appreciation for science.
We listen to podcasts together
My son enjoys listening to podcasts together in the car and his current favorite is "Tumble Science Podcast for Kids." The first episode we listened to was titled "The Poopologist." What little boy wouldn't be hooked by that title? The podcast often answers questions that are asked by young listeners, such as, "Do bugs have elbows?" As an adult, I don't think I would have ever wondered about bug elbows, but it encouraged us to think outside of the box.
At bedtime, after reading books, we often listen to the podcast "Sleep Tight Science," which is told in a calm voice and often lulls him to sleep.
He also likes listening to science-based cards on Yoto, a child-friendly audio platform. Doing so helps us get out the door faster as we get ready in the morning. Recently, we enjoyed the "Ladybird Audio Adventures" volcano card, which coordinates well with a book he's also enjoying, "Look Inside: Volcanoes and Earthquakes."
We find science in everyday life
Since my son is already interested in science, it's easy to apply the scientific method or scientific inquiry to everyday life. We'll often talk about things like the yeast in our sourdough starter or how to measure liquids properly in a measuring cup.
One of his favorite summer activities is gardening; he and my husband will plant a small assortment of vegetables, and he is thrilled to help care for and eat them. We discuss what the plants need to grow and how bees help pollinate certain plants. We even planted some tickle-me plants indoors — their leaves close up when they're touched, which is a defense mechanism.
Observing nature can be an experiment of itself; watching the raindrops, seeing how high the water splashes when jumping versus stepping in puddles, or watching the leaves turn colors.
This winter, we've learned about simple reactions by doing experiments with everyday household items, such as mixing baking soda and vinegar in a zip-top plastic bag that has been decorated with a snowman face. The baking soda and vinegar react to form carbon dioxide, which builds up when the bag is sealed, causing the bag to expand until it pops, causing an exploding snowman!
For another fun activity, we use salt as snow melt and pretend to go "ice fishing" in a cereal bowl full of water and ice. Putting salt on an ice cube changes the freezing point, causing the ice to melt faster. Placing a string on the ice cube can emulate ice fishing, as the ice cube will refreeze over the string once the salt becomes diluted by the surrounding water. I have to admit, it's pretty fun to watch my kids swing the ice cubes around!
We turn bath time into a fun experiment
Last year, my son's Christmas stocking was stuffed with a few bath potions that have been a big hit. He has both powder and mini bath bomb cubes that fit inside of a flask. You pour warm water into the flask and it reacts to form a colorful mini volcano. My son took this as an opportunity to see what happens when you pour some of the potion into another flask or take the cubes out.
We've reused the flask with bath color tablets and it resulted in a similar reaction (albeit smaller). He has fun playing pretend with the potions, often imitating a Bluey minisode, "Strong Potion," asking me to buy his potions and choosing what animal they'll turn me into, similar to what happens in the cartoon.
We embrace science and building kits
We also participate in activities outside of our home, such as the (free!) Lowe's and Home Depot kids' DIY workshops, where kids build things like toy snowplows and snowflake ornaments. Sharing these moments with my kids reminds me of my own youth.
My dad often built science kits with me when I was a child. I especially remember a build-a-radio kit and taking apart a broken VCR player, just to see what it looked like inside. They were precious bonding moments, but also sparked a sense of curiosity in my young mind. At the time, I might have wanted to be the president or an actress, but these projects taught me important life skill sets that led me to a career in science. Now, I'm doing the same with my children.
My son was given a science kit last year for his birthday and we've been working through the experiment list. He is especially enamored with the book How Things Work, which he was gifted after multiple library checkouts. It has experiments and games in it, but also stories and his favorite — a page that shows all of the lines (internet, water, sewer) going throughout a house.
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