Bring out the Little Scientists: Observing the Change in Seasons

  Its back to school time, and that means a change of season is upon us.  Even if your little one is to young for school, all around America, yellow buses are being spotted around town.  Soon the weather will get cooler, days will get shorter and leaves will begin to fall. 

      Noticing the changes in weather is a great way to bring out your preschooler’s inner scientist. Record you and your child going on a nature walk. Be sure to collect things you find on your walk, either through pictures or by collecting items in a zip lock box.  Follow the same route each month, recording your children and collecting objects during the walk. Let your child observe how the neighborhood has changed as Summer turns into Fall. 

Books can bring to life the year's weather cycle.  The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle illustrates the changing of seasons very well, showing how a seed travels and time passes as the seed begins to grow.  You can also use a calendar like you would a book, choosing pictures that depict natural scenes.  Tell stories about what is going to happen each month (family dates like birthdays or deployment dates, holidays and what the weather will be like).  Use the season changes to help children understand the concept of time. For instance, “Daddy is coming home in the Spring, when the snow is gone.” or, “We’ll visit Grandma and Grandpa in the summer, when it’s hot outside”

For a great family keepsake, take pictures of your kids near a local tree throughout the year.  This makes a great flip book. Your children can compare today’s picture, yesterday’s picture and last summer’s picture, noticing that the leaves have changed, the snow has melted and how big they have gotten over the year. 

What about kids in mild climate areas like Hawaii or San Diego? How do you explain season change when it never snows and the temperature never drops below 75 degrees?  Simple! Start a picture exchange with friends and family around the globe.  Share pictures via email, Facebook or old fashioned snail mail.  Your kids can compare the weather around the world by taping the pictures on a map of the world. 

How ever you do it, be sure you and your child are enjoying your time outdoors before the snow trucks out number the school busses.  Keep Jammin'