Parents are up against a powerful foe on the weekends. Video
games occupy kids for hours on end. Though entertaining and engrossing, most of
them don’t do much for your child’s development, which makes weekends an
intellectual black hole. Most kids roll their eyes at the idea of educational
activities that cut into their gaming time, but an instructional activity
doesn’t have to be boring and school-like. Some can be as effective at holding
your child’s attention as the latest video game and may even spur an interest
in science, a dream scenario for any parent. They’re especially handy for
single fathers, since they can be done as a family and are a great way to spend
some quality time together.
Cool experiments
The water cycle bag experiment is an easy activity requiring nothing more than some
plastic sandwich bags and food coloring. Simply place ¼ cup of water in a dish
and add four drops of food coloring. Then pour the mixture into a plastic bag,
seal it, and take it to a window. The sunlight gradually causes the water to
evaporate, and it eventually changes back into condensed water, in imitation of
nature’s water cycle. Ultimately, you’re left with a form of precipitation in a
bag!
Young kids love activities that allow them to incorporate
their name in decorative and striking ways. The crystal names experiment uses Borax, food coloring, pipe cleaners, and a little
fishing line to produce colored crystals which adhere to pipe cleaners spelling
out their name. Hold each “letter” up in the sunlight to see how they sparkle.
Borax dissolved in water creates a suspension, with solid particles that are
big enough for sedimentation to take place, and colored crystals are formed.
Few
home experiments are as fun as making a glass of lava. Simply fill a glass ¾ full of water, add five drops of food
coloring, and then pour in ¼ cup of vegetable oil, which will float to the top
since it’s lighter than water. The fun really starts when you sprinkle salt on
top to make globs of “lava” begin to move around. Homemade puffy paint is also
a fun experiment for all ages. Mix Elmer’s glue and shaving cream in a
container or on a paper plate, and then add a few drops of food coloring and
mix slowly until you get the proper consistency. All that’s left is to get some
paper and brushes and let your imagination take over.
Your kids may be familiar with the tried-and-true egg-drop challenge, since it’s a popular experiment among science instructors.
The objective is to build a container that’s capable of keeping an egg from
breaking when dropped from a high place. This one is fun because there’s no
limit on the kinds of material you can use—as long as they’re soft! For this
one, try toilet paper rolls, newspaper, popsicle sticks, a shoebox, plastic
bag, rubber bands, string, and balloons. Attach toilet paper rolls at four
corners of a sponge using tape. Place an egg in the middle of them and run tape
around the outside of the rolls to secure the egg. Next, attach a plastic bag
as an umbrella, attaching it to your “egg carrier” with string. Now, it’s time
for your experiment. You can use a play set in the backyard, drop if from the
top of a step ladder, or let it fall out the window. Just make sure the coast
is clear before you let go!
If your kids are into geology, your own backyard can be your laboratory. Conduct your own
“acid” test using white vinegar to determine whether you have limestone
deposits. Pour vinegar into several bowls, find some rock samples, and place
one in each bowl. If bubbles form in one, you know you’ve found a limestone
rock!
Single dads are often challenged to find educational
activities that their children can enjoy. Scientific experiments can be fun as
well as instructional. The best part is, you can do many of them at home with
commonplace household items.
About Our Guest Author:
Daniel Sherwin is the proud single father to two amazing kids (a daughter and a son). After noticing the lack of resources on the web for single dads, he started DadSolo.com so that others could learn from his successes, failures, and everything in between.
Blog Administrator: Trisha Roberts
proeducationaltoys@gmail.com
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