Why do children have difficulty understanding scientific ideas? How can they overcome this problem?

Answer 1

I think what happens is children are not introduced to pre math and science concepts at an early age as they are to language/reading skills. So when they get to school math and science concepts are foreign to them and they feel anxious about it. Children are naturally curious and actually find science enjoyable when it is presented to them. I'm doing a training right now with child care providers on exploration with young children and the basic concepts of collecting data (i.e. what living things can we find in the playground), analyzing data (we found 7 plants, 2 animals and 5 bugs) and making conclusions (lets draw a picture of the living thing we liked the most). I encourage them to have plants and living things in their classrooms to explore as well as using words like data, habitats, migration, diversity, etc. when talking with young children to get them used to the language of science.

Answer 2

Not sure what kind of scientific ideas you are talking about. Most children don't understand the world that way. It is something that has to interest them. I have a son (12) that is totally into science. He loves to see how creatures work and what makes them tick. He is planning on being a paleontologist when he grows up. Has always had a fascination about the earth and dinosaurs. He collects frogs, lizards and snakes just to watch them and how they do things. If they die, he dries them out to see their bones. He can sit for hours and watch insects and has been known to dissect a few.
I don't know if you can help them to overcome the problem of not being scientific. I think it is something that they have to be interested in.

Answer 3

Wonder how valid this is today, but one famous developmental psychologist (avoiding name correct spelling isn't known) said abstract thinking does not kick in till 13. That was long before internet but it must hold some validty because have not head it refuted.When scientic ideas are presented in more concrete manner would disagree with your question. Mister Wizzard always interested me.

Answer 4

it is called education which prpares the brain so that it can think better .plus an intake of data