Kid Science for Parents

Are you intimidated by the idea of going into nature with your child because you don’t know a lot about nature? It really isn’t necessary to know a lot about nature in order to enjoy it. Although I am an environmental educator, I’ve come to believe that it is more important to simply go outside and experience nature with your senses than it is to identify trees and birdsong and expound on the process of photosynthesis.

However, some facts are useful. For example, frogs, toads, and turtles, when picked up, will release a prodigious stream of urine to make them less appetizing to the creature that picked them up. (Remember, although we could use our hands, most creatures would have scooped up these critters into their mouths. – There is a fun fact that’s sure to be a hit with the kids!) So, where is a parent to start?

Go to the juvenile section of your public library. Don’t go crazy trying to learn a little bit of everything in a week. Pick a topic that is a favorite with your child – birds, frogs, insects. Now, these books aren’t for your child, they aren’t for you to read to your child; these books are for you to read. Don’t belittle starting with kids’ books these will give you a lot of the basics that you need to build on. Flip through a few books for grades 1 and 2, if they seem simplistic then go with books for grades 3 through 5.

Fourteen years ago when I started my switch into the environmental field, I didn’t have a science background (I was an English major who then taught English classes). Science books for adults were overwhelming. So, I’d go to the library and read a dozen or so books on a topic and then go off and teach about the topic.

The more you read about a topic the more sense it will make. The first time you learn a fact, it just kind of floats around in your mind wondering where to rest. When you see the same information numerous times it becomes easier to both remember those facts and learn new facts. Other advantages to reading science books for kids is that they are a quick read and they have lots of pictures – and even adults can appreciate that!