Wierd Science...

I grew up always interested in science and how things work, which meant as a parent, I did the same things with my children as they grew up. Sometimes we would make use of science kits, sometimes we would basically create our own. I didn't differentiate between my son and my daughters in these adventures, whether it was teaching them how to make a fake volcano that really erruputed using household chemicals or whether it was making sugar and salt crystals of different colors. We went thru several different types of microscopes that we used to look at environmental issues such as different types of water. Now of course things have changed where you can actually buy kits that will go much more into detail than when my older four were younger, this makes it so much easier to bring science into your home.

With all of them but more so with my youngest daughter we have spent quite a bit of time on astronomy, she was probably the only first grader who could tell you not only all of the planets but most of the main stars in the sky. I truly believe the end result of this type of home activity has been helpful in making them all better students. Each one of my children has made the honor roll, my oldest daughter was ranked second in her high school graduating class and is studying to be a mechanical engineer as well as heavily involved in Rube Goldberg. Allowing them to be creative and to experiment with science, though at times it did create a bit of a mess, is something I expect that I'll do with my grandchildren when that day comes as well...