A child’s world is full of amazing things that need to be explored and explained. Children love being allowed to experiment on their own. As they do so, they discover complex scientific phenomena and make connections in a fun way. Topsy’s experiments are based on this principle.

The experiments will not only arouse your children’s interest in science. Answering simple research questions at their own pace and according to their personal interests will enable them to develop skills which will be of use to them later in life, such as precisely following instructions, closely observing and structuring processes, making connections or dealing with failures and drawing the right conclusions from them.

This is how you can help your children with research and learning:

  • Awaken your children’s curiosity about a specific question. Actively prompt them to see if they can guess the right answer.
  • Then let your children carry out the experiment steps themselves. Children learn the most when they try things out for themselves. Encourage your children to try again in case of setbacks.
  • Only offer to assist your children if they are unable to carry out an experiment step themselves. For example if they need to use scissors.
  • Ask your children exactly what they observed during the experiment and what conclusions they can draw from it.
  • Do not reveal the answer to the research question too soon, but refer to the instructions in the experiment. Go through the instructions again together if your children do not yet see the connection. Try and reach the conclusion together by giving your children little hints.
  • Age-appropriate explanations go a long way – for young children, brief comparisons with things that are familiar to them are enough to trigger a satisfying aha-experience. For example, the wings of an airplane have a similar effect to the wings of a bird.

The world belongs to the curious! We wish you and your children lots of fun experimenting!