Fairs are supposed to be fun, including science fairs. A lot of parents tend to feel aggravated by the amount of extra work goes into science projects and the time and money they have to spend on their child’s project. Tell yourself that this year’s fair will involve no yelling, no crying, and no new gray hairs. You are going to lead from behind, quietly, keeping things under control with a few simple steps. Your child will finish the fair proud of himself. His teacher will be happy to see a project that was created all by the work of your student and not with a parent’s intervention.
Leading from Behind
Be ready, and make a list of ideas before your child gets started. Many projects can be adjusted to suit a range of grades. Offer your child five choices, and once you have a project, set a budget. Buy any supplies your child might need on your regular shopping trips. There will be no last minute shopping this year! Do everything you need to before and when they start their experiments and poster, don’t get involved. Let them know you trust them to do the whole experiment, and you just provide some tools.
Start Off Right
Firmly commit time for your child to work on the project. Leave them a half an hour after dinner to work exclusively on their experiments. Before they begin, have them explain how they will use the scientific method to achieve the goal, and document the experiment. Accept now that the project will be less than perfect, and feel free to offer suggestions for improvement, but do not do the work for them!
The Search
Science is in everything, so consider your child’s interests. What kinds of books, games, and activities do they enjoy? These should give you a direction. Are wizards their thing? A chemistry project might fit the bill. Sports nut? Try physics. Nature lover? Look to environmental sciences. A quick search will lead you to hundreds of websites with project ideas. You must narrow them down given what you know about your child and your own patience. Go to a General Recycling Industries Ltd. to get supplies for cheap. You can often find cheap or free scrap materials at a metal Recyclers in Edmonton. This way you save money and you can get started as you think about the type of experiment your child would like to do.
Science is fun, and giving your child a chance at real hands-on learning is great for bringing all they learn in the classroom out into the real world. Give your child the reins, and let them take charge. This is the year you both have fun at the Science Fair.
