How to Get Your Children Interested in Engineering or Science

Because children are naturally curious about the world in which they live, they have a unique ability to develop new interests and really devote themselves to it. Unlike adults, who are held back by mundane things like paying bills, children are still seeing things for the first time, and they have an innate sense of joy when they are allowed to do things like creatively record their findings in a scientific journal. Science and engineering are some of the fastest growing fields, so, if you want your child to be a success in the future, you might consider using the information here to influence them today. Visit Science Exhibits Kids spend a large part of their day sitting in a classroom. No matter how interesting the material is, by offering it to them in more than one format, you can help cultivate a genuine interest. Your kids may not understand all of the jargon at science exhibits, but they will at the very least be entertained by some of the demonstrations. Not only that, but they will be happy just to spend the day with you. Keep an eye out for local exhibits and museums. If need be, travel to someplace like the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and spend the entire weekend browsing the advances made in science and engineering over the years. Promote Questions Science would never make any strides if no one asked questions. Kids are more than willing to address their questions to you. Are you willing to answer them? Even if the questions aren’t science or engineering related, by keeping an open dialogue and promoting that kind of curiosity, you’re encouraging your child to use his or her powers of observation—something that is a must in the field of science. Build a World around Science For some families, science is just another class in school. For others, science is their favorite class in school, because those families understand that just about every academic skill you need to develop can be done through science. From developing rudimentary math skills to learning sequencing through documentation in a lab notebook, children can build their academic standing just by focusing on science. All of the other areas of study will develop on their own as a child’s skills in science develop. Have Ongoing Projects at Home You have a lot of things to do as a parent. Your child always wants to spend time with you. Combine those two things to encourage your child to learn about science. Do you need to fix the mower? Have your child help and explain the mechanics of things as you go. Something like this can be a simple project for you, but a complex learning experience for your child. It doesn’t hurt to go out of your way to challenge your child, either, and let them learn from their environment. Encourage him or her to collect rocks and explore what those rocks are made of. They can also collect plant specimens and research them to find uses, as well as understand why they grow in your area and why others don’t. As you work to encourage your child to be interested in science, be sure to provide the tools they need. Provide real tools, and not toys, so your child will take it seriously. Something as simple as a real scientific notebook where he or she can document their findings can go a long way toward developing lifelong learning skills in science.