5 Great Science Experiments for Kids

Say the word science to a child and you are likely to get one of two very different reactions. One is excitement; where the child’s imagination is triggered by thoughts of bubbling test-tubes and chemical reactions. The other reaction is one of unimpressed apathy where science means hard to understand books, lectures and boredom. As a long time science fan I find the latter reaction sad but not entirely surprising. So as parents, what can we do to show our children that science can be fun, practical and hands-on? Simple; do some science with them.

The following experiments are great fun and children should find them as entertaining as any art or craft project.

Floating Ping Pong Ball

You will need:

• Hair dryer
• Ping Pong Ball

How To Make a Cartesian Diver

You will need:

• A plastic soda bottle with a cap
• A glass eye-dropper
• Water

How to Make an Ocean Bottle

You will need:

• A plastic bottle
• Water
• Blue food coloring
• Baby oil

How to Pierce a Balloon without Popping It

You will need:

• A Balloon
• Skewer or needle
• Petroleum Jelly

How to Blow out a Candle without Blowing It

You will need:

• A bowl
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Paper
• A lighter or matches
• 1 long and 1 short candle

I think the most rewarding thing about conducting science experiments with kids is the way it sparks their quest for even more knowledge. Kids love facts and encouraging their interest in science will have them asking questions in the search for more information; “What is my doll made from?”, “What is snow made of?”, “How does the car work?” All of these questions have easy to understand scientific answers that children will feel smarter for knowing.

Of course; I’m not suggesting of that science should be foisted upon every child, sometimes it’s just not for them, but if your child is showing an interest in science then there are a number of ways to encourage them. Science museums are becoming increasingly child friendly with hands-on exhibits and games that explore basic scientific principles. Science themed children’s parties are also becoming popular. At a science party you can expect the kids to be making slime, volcanoes and silly putty with a mad scientist entertainer like David from the videos above. Lastly, I would recommend buying educational books and films based around a child’s favorite subject; when I was a child I was obsessed with dinosaurs and paleontology and ended up reading some pretty complex stuff for my age but still understanding and enjoying it.

Science is the study of how the world works and children are the most inquisitive people on the planet so Biology, Physics and Chemistry should be the perfect subjects for children. For this reason, I think it is important to combat the common misconception of science subjects being boring or difficult because science is a creative subject and often fascinating in its simplicity.