Power in Math and Science: Advice for Parents

If you shy away from math and science activities with your children because you're afraid you don't know much about them, read on. There's lots you can do to encourage your children's interest in these areas, and you don't have to be a statistician or microbiologist to do it! In fact, it's better if you don't give them knowledge by telling them answers; instead, nurture their love for these subjects by watching and learning right along with them.

Some home learning tools that teach about math and science:

• building blocks and construction sets
• magnets
• ant farms
• scales
• magnifying glasses
• flower and vegetable seeds
• calculators
• flower press
• bird feeders
• microscopes and telescopes

• Bake a cake together and observe/talk about how the mixtures change from powders to liquid to solid.
• Look at salt and sugar under a microscope or magnifying glass. How are the crystals like? How are they different?
• Put a tulip or daffodil in water with food coloring and observe how the water travels up the stem and into the petals.
• Make a bird feeder out of a milk container and observe the different birds that visit. What are their colors and sizes? When do they come?
• Take a nature walk and record the different kinds of bugs you see or collect a variety of leaves.
• Observe clouds and notice differences in the ones that bring rain or thunderstorms and the ones that don't.
• See if there are science museums or children's museums nearby.
• Look for extra activities offered by your child's school, the town, a community college, YMCA/YWCA, etc.