Let’s be honest. When you hear the word “science,” what is your gut reaction? Do you embrace the idea, thinking about all of the cool ways we experience science every day? Or do you cringe and wave it off, insisting that you “can’t do science” and “can’t understand that stuff”? I’m guessing you’re a cringer. Am I right? Well, you’re not alone. Many people are, mistakenly thinking that we have to be scientists to “do science.”
What you may not realize is that science is literally everywhere; and we interact with it every single moment of our lives. It doesn’t have to be complicated. The simple act of using your five senses to experience the world is science. So is blowing bubbles, flying a kite, making shadow puppets, mixing colors, growing a garden, flying paper airplanes, jumping on a trampoline, throwing a football, skipping stones on a pond…everything is science!
These days, it’s more important than ever to get children interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – STEM for short. The United States has fallen behind many other countries in learning these concepts, so schools everywhere are placing more and more emphasis on STEM and its real-world applications. If you’re a teacher (or a Children’s Librarian, like me), then you already know this. This is the reason why I started a monthly program at the Eastlake Library for ages 3 to 6 called “Pint-Sized Science.” It’s part storytime and part science lab, where we explore science through stories, songs, games, and fun themed activities. The purpose of the program is twofold. First, children are introduced to STEM concepts in a fun way. Second, parents & caregivers are shown how to do STEM concepts at home with just the materials they have around the house. Like I said before, science doesn’t have to be complicated. Many people just need a little inspiration!
Where can you find inspiration? Well, just as science is everywhere, so is inspiration! The internet is a great place to start. Just Google something like “kid science experiments” or “science for toddlers,” and you’ll get millions of results that include websites, images, and even videos. Need to narrow down those results? Have a bunch of empty paper towel tubes laying around that you want to find a use for? Just Google “science paper towel tubes.” You can find experiments for these and any other any materials you happen to have on hand!
Pinterest is another great internet resource. Not only can you find delicious recipes and imaginative craft ideas, but you can find a treasure trove of science experiments and other STEM activities that you can do with your children. For example, you can mix cornstarch and water to get Oobleck, a substance that is both liquid and solid. (It’s weird and is guaranteed to be fun for all ages!) How about making foil boats and seeing what it takes to make them sink? Or stamping household objects in Playdough or clay to see the impressions they make? You can make marble runs with paper towel tubes, dinosaur skeletons with dried pasta, a touch-&-feel activity with empty tissue boxes and textures glued inside, paper planes and helicopters, volcanic eruptions with baking soda & vinegar, marshmallow catapults with popsicle sticks and rubber bands, and much, much more. You’ll need to create your own free account on the Pinterest site to have full access and to organize your “pins,” but the possibilities are truly endless, and so is the fun!
Naturally, you can also find inspiration at your local library. If you haven’t been to a library in a while, we welcome you to find out what we have to offer! We have a ton of books and DVDs about science, technology, engineering, and math topics for children that you can borrow for free, including those that focus on experiments and other activities. Some libraries (like mine) also offer free STEM-related children’s programs that your family can attend. All you have to do is ask, and we’re more than happy to help!
It’s so easy to introduce STEM to your children with so many free resources available to you! Like learning a second language, the younger you can start with your children, the more likely they are to understand and embrace the concepts, especially if you make it fun for them. They’ll be better prepared for school, they’ll develop a stronger foundation for whatever career they choose in the future, and they’ll have the skills to be lifelong learners. And of course, if you’re making science fun for your kids, then maybe, just maybe, you’re having fun, too!
