Nurturing the Budding Scientist inside Every Child

“Young children live in the here-and-now world around them, which they use as a laboratory for their explorations.” Lucy Sprague Mitchell

Children’s author Ruth Kraus put this idea into practice.

She asked a group of children to define the purposes of everyday items.

She asked questions like:

1.) What are dogs for?

2.) What is a face for?

3.) What is a lap for?”

Then the answers were published.

A Hole is to Dig: A First Book of First Definitions, 1952

The answers?

1.) Dogs are to kiss people.

2.) A face is something to have on the front of your head.

3.) A lap is so you don’t get crumbs on the floor.

Of course, these are silly answers, but they do encourage observing and reporting.

Why not Record Observations like Miss Kraus?

Start early, so your child becomes comfortable with sharing ideas.

As the child grows, so will the answers.

Encourage.

Guide.

Encourage more.

Have you ever thought about the meaning of the word encourage?

According to Merriam-Webster, it means “to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope”.

Courage.

Spirit.

Hope.

What great gifts!

For Older Children

Instead of simple nouns, ask about abstract concepts.

What is happiness?

What is confusion?

What is loyalty?

Secondary exercise

If you can find the book, “A Hole is to Dig”, first read the given answer, then ask your child, “What else is it for?”

And Finally…

Let’s Make our own Book

Simple.

Just start asking the purpose of various things. Record your answers, and allow your child to illustrate it.

Now…

Go forth and encourage!

by Meg (homeschooling mom of 9)

MS, Exceptional Student Education (Univ. of W. Florida) emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis

MA, psychology (Grand Canyon University)

Bachelor of Arts (Northwest Nazarene University)

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