For students
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Tips for parents to motivate children to learn chemistry
For many, chemistry is associated with periodic tables, laboratories and formulas, but everyday it is present to everyone, for example, eating in cooking or cleaning the house. Grindeks compiled recommendations for parents, which will help encourage children to explore the practical and exciting side of chemistry.
It is undeniable that both parents and educators play an important role in selecting a child’s future career, but before that it is essential to see and to be aware of the child’s true interests, an invitation. One of the ways to do this is to work together since childhood, showing that there is an interesting and opportunity-filled world behind textbooks.
#1 Allow a child to ask questions
Children’s issues “why” and “how” should be taken seriously at any age, because it is parents who, by a certain age, are the main and most reliable source of child information. Parents have an equally important role to play, at least for a while, at the age when children go to school and begin to learn science, including chemistry. In addition, parents can not only help in training but also promote children’s interest in the subject, allowing them to explore chemical-related processes in practice at home or in nature.
#2 Use technology and additional help
If, however, parents do not feel secure about their chemical knowledge, they can search for answers and ideas on the Internet, such as uzdevumi.lv and Chinese. Today’s technology makes it easy to find educational TV programs and video; it is the video format that is one of the easiest and most accessible learning methods. They explain both theoretical and practical examples in an interactive way. To make the process even more exciting, older learning can be turned into a game. For example, after discussing specific issues, playing quiz and competing amiably with each other and checking each other. There are also other educational formats available to children and young people: interest groups, private tutors, visits to different museums, tours, additional literature and portal soma.lv. It is a free and exciting way to test your erubility, not only on chemical issues, but also on other, multi-faceted topics, while competing for valuable awards.
#3 Just experiments at home
Chemistry, like science, makes it practical and creative. The opportunity to try an experiment itself will boost the child’s interest and curiosity about chemistry. Depending on the child’s age, safe and simple experiments can be carried out under parental supervision at home. The various chemistry kits that will allow the child to set up his own “chemical laboratory” are very useful for doing these. Resources available in the household, such as soda, citric acid, sugar, salt and other substances, can be equally well balanced. One of the simplest experiments is a “volcano” that needs a glass, one tablespoon soda, two tablespoons vinegar and food coloring. This (and other) experiment should be remembered for safety measures, as the reaction to the combination of soda (alkali) and vinegar (acid) will result in foaming and the release of carbon dioxide. Such experiments must clearly remove the spaces and make sure that the room is suitable for a specific experiment. Chemical compounds are also present to children and young people in such popular “slime” toys. “Slime” can also be made at home by mixing PMI glue, liquid linen powder, shaving foam and food colorants.
#4 Don’t be afraid to be wrong and seek and recognize chemistry all around
In science, many of the findings have been accidental, or on the contrary, following repeated attempts, learning from past mistakes. In this way, for example, penicillin has been discovered, plastic and fireworks have been invented. Chemicals are not sufficient for a single trial, as there are many times to be verified for good and equivalent results, which are particularly important for medicines, for example. By evaluating experiments and knowing what has failed, the child will learn and explore interesting interactions, develop logical thinking and promote creativity. Therefore, it is important to encourage children or young people not to succumb to the first time and to repeat the experiment. New relationships will also allow you to see more chemistry in everyday circles, starting from our body, which consists of different chemical elements, changing the colour of the leaves in different seasons, and ending with the always-present hand washing and disinfecting – chemistry is everywhere!
