Parenting in a child’s early years is an exciting journey. Little by little your child’s sense of curiosity, personality and interest start to develop and serves as the compass that will lead them to a happy and fulfilling life. The key for any parent to bear in mind is that these formative years are all about discovery! Exposure to many different activities, sports, hobbies and new knowledge is the best way to discover a child’s aptitude and interest in a certain area.
Science and engineering is a fantastically rewarding career especially at this point in time as the only way for society to sustainably progress is through leveraging the use of technology. Within our lifetime entire new information-reactive cities will be built and operated using smart technology in a bid to minimise systemic inefficiencies that are currently causing adverse environmental impacts. The children who embark upon a scientific career path today will be at the forefront of a new era of engineering that will shape our entire existence for years to come.
Understandably, many parents feel nervous about litmus testing science with their children at a young age in fear of doing it the wrong way and subsequently putting them off for life. Sparking interest in a young mind on any subject comes down to evoking a sense of wonder. Yes, engineering as a discipline is very technical, precise and methodical, but a young child is probably not going to be bowled over by the wonders of how a transformer works or the principles of fluid mechanics. The key is making science fun and showing your child the pure wonder behind such the everyday world and how it can be made better.
Museums
Museums are a fantastic resource to learn about science and also give you the chance to be involved in the learning process together, this is key to creating a supportive atmosphere. Museums by their nature are designed for spectators and are set up to be visual, engaging and interactive which makes them ideal for younger children.
The best part is that in the UK we are fortunate to have many top tier science museums including:
- The Science Museum (London)
- We The Curious (Bristol)
- Techniquest (Cardiff)
- National Space Centre (Leicester)
- Think Tank (Birmingham)
- Natural History Museum (London)
- Life Science Centre (Newcastle)
Why not plan some fun family day trips on the weekends or school holidays to a science-themed museum? The fun visual appeal of museums is a great way to spark an early interest in any number of science-related areas.
Science Related Toys
Building a curiosity about science needn’t be restricted to formal educational settings! Aspects of science are evident in everyday life and there are some fantastic toys available which are not only fun but also encourage interest in some basic engineering principles. Here are a few engineering-friendly toys you could consider.
Meccano – For over 120 years meccano has been used as a construction system consisting of thin hole-punched metal girders, strips, plates and screws. Meccano is bought usually in model kits each with the end goal of producing a car, plane, animals and even robots. Some car models even come with small motors and wheel axles allowing them to move. Meccano is great for a child because it teaches lessons in structural creativity and also gives them the freedom to improvise and make something of their own.
Airfix Quickbuild – These small scale plastic models are designed for younger builders and unlike the standard Airfix models, do not require glue! Airfix Quickbuild allows children to construct realistic mini replicas of various planes, cars, ships, helicopters and other vehicles from pre-cast plastic parts. Following instructions and logically putting these vehicles together is a great way for kids to learn about focus, care and the anatomy of mechanical vehicles. As they get older you and your child can attempt the more advanced model sets that use real glue and come in larger sizes!
Scalextric – Scalextric has been a long-standing favourite with many children because it provides the excitement of speeding cars and a customisable race track. Scalextric is also a great place to learn about basic electronics: the power box converts the electric current from AC to DC which is then moderated via the use of resistors fitted in hand controllers. By controlling the flow of DC current to the track, the speed of the cars can then be increased or decreased!
Encourage An Enquiring Mind
Aside from toys and museums, one of the most important ways of helping your child to see the world through a scientific mind is to encourage them to see things differently. For example, when you are out in the park and see a plane in the sky, why not open up a conversation about how amazing it is that a fully loaded A380 weighs 632 tons but can still fly! This may attract a sense of curiosity from your child at which point you can explain the basic principle of how an engine creates air propulsion which is directed by wings to create an upwards lift to keep the plane in the sky.
In time your child will start to question the workings behind more and more of what they see but it is important to keep them questioning. As mentioned previously, science is all around us and getting children interested in it just takes someone to guide them and make them realise that there are physical causes and effects in everything they see. Seeing the world through the lens of why things happen will promote an interest in studying STEM subjects and pursue a related career.
Siemens is passionate about educating the next generation of engineers and scientists. Encouraging and nurturing emerging talent has allowed us to remain at the cutting edge of engineering technologies for the last century. As we look forward, the future is ripe with challenges all of which we must conquer for the good of our planet and sustainable way of life. To do this, we need fresh minds who see things differently and are always two steps ahead.