Making the Solar System interesting for Kids

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Killing aliens with the x-box may not be the only way for your
kids to step outside the planet. Dads and kids can still share the thrill of a darkened planetarium
or the awe of a star-bright night sky. Such experiences can make the universe seem within our reach,
help dads bond with their children.

The solar system with its colorful planets and exotic
names is always a good place to start. Here are some things dads can do to make the universe a more
interesting place for kids:

• Take a trip to the local planetarium—look out for special
  shows and exhibits.
•  Science parks are fun too. Let your kids travel through simulators
  and get their hands dirty in space. Make sure they get to crank-up those miniature models of the
  solar systems that go round and round.
• Buy your kids a small telescope (‘that’s awesome
  dad!’). Teach them how to set it up in their room and take care of it.
• Ask your children
  about their favorite planet and help them locate photos and information about it on the
  Internet.
• Purchase a top-of-the-line start-up kit that can help your kids build their very
  own planetarium right at home. Make sure you get the glow-in-the-dark model that lights up at
  night.
• If you think your kids are born astro-nuts, take them to the nearest library to
  browse through some huge space encyclopedias. That should give them some big, colorful, and serious
  stuff to handle.
• Sign them up for the summer space camp. It’s a bit expensive but the
  experience is worth it.

Younger kids are often inquisitive about the nature of the
universe, how things work, will they break, will we all disappear etc. While dads may not have all
the answers at hand, they can certainly help explain the solar system with a simple model using
colorful balls of varying size in the backyard and take the young ones for an imaginary space walk.
Make sure they learn (say ‘hello Pluto’) all the names of the planets on the way back home.

Also See

NASA info for Dads and Kids

Astronomy for kids 4-10