Helping kids develop, and interest in science, math, technology, and engineering is not an easy task. It takes a lot of work and commitment. However, since the process and the results can have extremely beneficial effects on your child, in the long run, we suggest using the following tips to integrate science into your child’s daily life.
1. Start looking at the problem from a different perspective.
Carol Dweck, the author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, says that praising the process is far more important than doing the same with the child’s intelligence. Many parents like to think that their kids are gifted and more capable of their competitors. Often times, this isn’t true. While a child might have a natural ability for one thing or the other, they might not express the same interest for all study fields.
To ensure that you child has great results in school and doesn’t stumble upon the same educational issues as many of their peers, it is important to try out as many strategies as possible so as to promote the kid’s focus and perseverance. All hard work pays off in the end, whether it does sooner or later.
So, instead of telling your kid that they might not have a natural ability for maths or physics, praise their effort and create several problem-solving activities so as to learn with them and promote their commitment.
2. Give them educational gifts
It goes without saying that not all children are interested in science, and that’s entirely understandable. Some come from environments where it was impossible for them to build an interest in biology, for example.
The point that we are trying to make is that every gift should have some kind of meaning. Whether you decide to offer them a drone, a tablet, an e-book reader, or a telescope, such a device needs to be connected to education in some way or the other. Choosing the best microscope for kids might not be so daunting if you know that the youngster likes learning new things about insects, plants, or is great with their hands and would enjoy making their own jewelry.
3. Just take a hike
Sometimes, it all boils down to the simple things in life. A long walk through the park or the woods nearby can allow you to tackle a lot of topics. Talk to your child about animal habitats, local geology, the relationship that develops between a predator and prey, whether some birds spend their entire lives in a specific area or migrate to warmer regions of the planet in winter, and anything else that crosses your mind.
On the one hand, you get to spend quality time with your son or daughter. On the other, you can finally show them that science can be fun. Even going to a new town every three months or so can help them find out more about that place’s history, main events, and the famous people who hail from that place.