(AD) How to Raise a Science Lover

Science plays a key role in the school curriculum and can ultimately lead to an abundance of different career opportunities, from medicine, engineering and even to forensics plus lots of others. With that said, most parents are keen for their child to perform well in science lessons and exams, but this is often easier said than done. Not every child is keen on science so it’s difficult to keep them motivated. However, there are ways that parents can help their child find an interest in science from a young age. I have teamed up with a private school in Oxford to offer you some advice.

The best thing you can do to help your child become a lover of science is to show them how important it is in our everyday lives. The more familiar they are with the subject, the less intimidating it will feel, and with the current situation around, now is a great time to educate children on germs. So, talk about it on a regular basis, for instance, if you’re out for a drive, ask your child if they know what makes the car move and how the engine works. You could also chat about how cars are affecting the environment and come up with some alternative options for travel that might be more eco-friendly.

If you want to go down an eco-route, help your child understand the importance of recycling household waste. Explain to them what will happen to the plastic etc if it is not recycled. You could even consider watching some documentaries on this topic to help improve your child’s knowledge of environmental issues, and you can teach them about going green to help the environment seeing as this is a big topic at the present moment. 

Dinnertime usually provides a great opportunity for you to talk about science related topics as a family. For instance, you could share some interesting knowledge that you learnt about on the news, like a new vaccine or severe weather warnings. Ask your other family members if they have learnt anything interesting so that you engage everyone in the conversation.

For younger children, science experiments and water play are great options. You could try dunking various items into a bucket of water or the bath, to see which ones sink and which ones float. The idea behind this is to make science fun for your child, so that they feel more excited for their lessons. However, don’t be afraid to contact your child’s teachers if you would like some more support in helping them find an interest in the subject; you will probably find that they are more than happy to help.

Until next time,
Jada x