Biology, the study of living things, might seem like an intimidating subject best left until high school, but it is actually one of the easiest and best ways for children to engage with science. Life is all around us, giving kids the opportunity to learn hands-on in their own backyards!
Why Biology?
Biology is a broad topic, allowing children to pursue their own interests at their own pace. Learning more about a favorite animal, documenting the growth and development of a pet, or growing a plant or garden are all easy and interesting ways to introduce a child to biology.
Biology can also turn a child’s attention to the development and health of their own body. The importance of exercise, nutrition, sleep, and more can all be approached through the lens of biology, and can help children see the importance of scientific inquiry and discoveries.
Perfect for Kids
Science lessons can be full of complex terminology and expensive equipment, but it doesn’t always have to be that complicated. Doing something as simple as identifying what types of trees live in your area by examining their leaves can be a fun way for children to explore the important concepts of diversity and ecosystems.
To introduce habitats, try to name or draw all of the insects or flowers in your backyard. Give your child a plant to take care of, after explaining what plants need to live, to give them a sense of purpose and help them become better caretakers later on in life.
Think of all of the living things that you encounter every day. Each one presents an opportunity for a child to engage with biology, helping them develop their cognitive skills. Scientific curiosity begins in childhood; help them develop it, and they will continue to be passionate about learning throughout their whole life.
Starting Conversation and Solving Problems
Not every interaction with science needs to be an experiment. Conversation helps develop a child’s ability to express themselves, solve problems, ask for help, and work together with others. Conversations about biology in particular are a gateway into topics such as anatomy, genetics, life cycles, and medicine.
Biology is a vast subject, encompassing everything from the smallest of cells to entire ecosystems. Health, pollution, climate change, and food shortages are often talked about, and introducing kids to biology helps them better understand and engage with these complicated subjects.
Thinking about these concepts and issues early on in life will help them become their generation’s problem-solvers.
Not sure where to start?
Science Naturally offers a number of books carefully crafted to introduce children to the world of science. Women in Biology, newly available in paperback in both English and Spanish, teaches children the basic concepts of biology through the contributions of influential women in science.
Once they’ve finished reading about the diverse experiments in biology, they’ll be ready to start projects of their own. Also part of this series are Women in Physics and Women in Chemistry.
If your little biologist is craving more scientific building blocks, introduce them to science at a molecular level with the All About Atoms book set, which includes Atoms, Protons and Neutrons, and Electrons.