Guiding Curiosity: Nurturing Young Scientists

The United States lags behind most other first-world nations in rankings of our children’s science literacy. Science lessons in many schools risk elimination to make room for preparation for standardized testing in math and reading. While teachers, school administrators, and politicians scramble to determine how to catch up and improve science education, parents, especially of our youngest children, are left out of this conversation. This is odd as parents may be our most significant assets in channeling children’s joy of discovery and building foundations for learning science. After listening to the national discussion about how our schools are failing our children, Drs Gamble and Cota-Robles decided to offer an alternative perspective. Schools cannot be solely responsible for a child’s science education. Parents and other family members make major contributions, but may not be aware of the type or the extent of their influence because their part is often marginalized, especially in the realm of science. This book is an outgrowth of the authors' professional expertise in parenting young children. It also reflects their experience as a mothers of children with unique interests and personalities. It is the authors' most strident wish that parents be familiarized with their important role in improving science literacy. It is also their wish that they not be made to feel overburdened with yet another expectation to be a superior parent, but rather that they experience the joy of discovery with their children while nurturing relationships based on shared interests.

Guiding Curiosity: Nurturing Young Scientists equips parents and others (e.g., grandparents, uncles, aunts, nannies) with handy and easy-to-use strategies for augmenting young children’s natural scientific inclinations. The book begins with an introduction to critical inquiry, a well-researched concept advocated by science educators. Science is both a body of knowledge and a way of building that knowledge and critical inquiry reflects the process of understanding by asking questions, making observations, taking measurements and experimenting. It is expected that with a brief introduction to the concept and steps of inquiry, parents will understand the “why” behind the strategies presented and, therefore, be in a better position from which to launch their own ideas for inspiring interest in all things related to science. Readers are also offered helpful tips for engaging a child’s attention and keeping them focused. Understanding the fundamentals of critical inquiry is a first step, but to make it work readers are invited to learn how to join in and capitalize on their child’s play. Exuberant play is an ideal “laboratory” for exploration. Culled from the authors’ many years as lecturers, researchers, and parents, fascinating information on the development of young children is provided. This background information should help readers better recognize their child’s emerging cognitive and language skills that will shape their play, learning and social interactions. Readers are also encouraged to consider trying new strategies for correcting misguided responses and praising correct answers. In the second part of the book, readers will find a series of activities for exploring the physical, life, and earth sciences with young children. Instructions for the activities are provided, including information on the tools or materials needed to aid discovery. The activities described can be readily introduced and are structured to guide a child’s thinking through scientific processes

Wendy Gamble, Ph.D. spent 30 years teaching courses in child and adolescent development in several universities across the country. She has also been involved in many research projects focusing on children’s relationships with their siblings, parents, peers, and teachers, and the consequences of those social connections for their emotional well-being. The results of this research have been published in many peer-reviewed journals and books and Dr. Gamble has presented findings at national and international conferences and to community groups. These experiences have contributed to her desire to support parents in engaging their young children in learning experiences. Dr. Gamble's advice and suggestions are derived from a scientific foundation, but rather than further complicate the parental role, her real goal is to help maximize fun and the excitement of discovery in parent-child interactions.