Manjula Reddy Nookala on Getting Kids Excited About Science in AZ

Are you looking for ways to get your kids more excited about science and learning in general? Bill Nye, the famous “Science Guy,” says that you have until around age 10 to get your kids interested in science if you want them to have a lifelong love for it. Here are some ideas that you can start right away to get your kids (and you) more interested in science.

• Do experiments together

One of the best ways to get your kids excited about science is to conduct some fun experiments together at home. You could try making slime, play-dough, or even your own lava lamp. If you don’t want to purchase supplies, there are plenty of simple experiments demonstrated online that you can complete with objects you already own. And as a bonus, these experiments are also a great way to bond as a family!

• Visit a science museum together

There’s no better way to get your kids excited about science and learning than to spend a day at a science museum. As residents of Phoenix, we are fortunate enough to have some great science museums nearby. The Arizona Science Center has dozens of attractions including one of the country’s most technologically-advanced planetariums. If you want to experience something different, try the Sonoran Desert Museum where you’ll find a “fusion experience” that includes a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, and natural history museum.

• Get outside!

Most kids love nature. Spend some time outside with your kids and let them explore. You can find rocks together, look up the names of plants that you find, or talk about how the clouds form. If you find an interesting rock, leaf, or bug, you can examine it closer together with a magnifying glass. Ask your kids questions to make them curious about the world around them. Find out what they are naturally drawn to and then after you get home, help them to learn more about it. For example, if they loved talking about the birds they saw outside, you could buy them about a book about birds or print out a bird-watching guide.

There are plenty of ways to get your kids excited about science in Phoenix. You can conduct experiments in your kitchen, explore your backyard, or visit a science museum. Whatever you choose to do, make it as fun as possible for everyone, including you. If your kids see you taking an interest in science, they are more likely to be interested too.