Making science fun for kids

Science is one of those weird and wonderful subjects that can be very dry if all you're doing is learning it from a textbook. Instead, the key to understanding and loving science is to get out and experience it yourself.

Cultivate a love for science in your child by starting them young on the journey of exploring nature, asking questions, testing their hypotheses, and discovering for themselves how science is alive in the world around us.
 
Here are some suggestions on how to make science fun:

1. Go on nature walks
Start your quest to get into science by getting out into nature. Explore the many parks that we have on this island and the rich biodiversity they offer. Visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) where you will be spoiled for choice with the many gardens within to view and get up close with the plants, birds and other little creatures which flourish in this part of the world.

Download and follow one of the SBG's Walking Trail Guides to help you make the most of your trip, or you could sign-up for one of their free guided tours, which happens every Saturday morning.

Another favourite nature spot of ours is Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. The Mangrove Boardwalk is an easy walk for beginners and you will see plenty of crabs, mudskippers, monitor lizards, and maybe even a crocodile or two. This is also a great spot for bird watching, especially during migratory bird seasoning the middle and end of the year. They also offer free guided tours at 9:30 am on Saturday morning.

If you're feeling adventurous, take a trip over to Pulau Ubin and take a walk along the Chek Jawa boardwalk to explore one of Singapore richest ecosystems. Do note that Chek Jawa is an intertidal area so do visit during low tide or you wouldn't see much! You are only allowed to go down to intertidal flats if on a guided tour, but spots on the tour are limited and highly coveted.

2. Conduct home experiments
There's nothing like conducting an experiment yourself to inspire learning. There are lots of simple experiments you can conduct at home, and the best part is that you can easily find most of the items in your own kitchen.

Use baking soda and vinegar to blow up a balloon, or create a geyser with just mentos and coke. How about writing a letter with invisible ink? (ie. lemon juice) After it dries, apply heat with an iron and watch the words appear. You could also plant a seed and watch it germinate to admire the science of life. There is no end to the possibilities, and if you need some help, there are plenty of suggestions for home experiments on the internet.

3. Visit the Science Centre
Science Centre Singapore is a great resource, with many galleries covering a wide range of topics that allow children to engage and get up close with science. Do not miss the daily shows and demonstrations, with the Tesla Coil and Fire Tornado being among the crowd favourites.

Bring the kids on Friday nights to the Observatory where you can get some help viewing star constellations and even take a peek at distant planets and stars through their powerful telescopes.

For young kids, Kids Stop, the new science centre for children aged between 2 to 8 years is a great space to learn your science while having fun. With over 20 galleries, there is plenty to see and do as the kids learn through play!

4. Stock the bookshelf with fun science books
Good books capture the imagination and spark an interest in a subject in a child. For preschoolers, there is a large variety of books covering science topics but my favourites are The Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, and books by author and illustrator Gail Gibbons.

Both these series of books feature colourful illustrations which are very appealing to children, while pitching the information at a level which is easy from them to understand, yet with enough detail to be interesting.
 
For school-going children, I've found Horrible Science to be a fun and funny look into some of the icky bits of science that is engaging and appealing to children.

Vera is a restless don't-stay-at-home-mum who is happiest meeting friends and bringing her two kids out to events and activities around town. She also loves trying out new recipes, planning parties and Instagram. More of her life and exploits can be found at www.lifeisinthesmallthings.com