Introducing a 5 year old to Astronomy?

Question

Our 5 year old son has become interested in Astronomy. This interest was put in full speed ahead drive this past week when my husband took him out to watch the Geminid Meteor Shower. We want to foster this interest, but neither of us have any clues about this hobby. I have researched this on the net and have time and time again read it is best to start them out with a good pair of binoculars as they can see a wide scope of sky with these instead of a telescope which will only focus on a small area of sky, thus making it harder to analyze what he is seeing. We are also planning a trip to a local planetarium and observatory to let him learn more.
Anyone out there who is into Astronomy and starwatching I would enjoy some feedback on how to introduce him properly and techniques so he doesn't become frustrated. I did read that this can be frustrating in the beginning until you learn how to find what you are looking for in the sky. Advance thanks!!

Let me add that he can already point out most of the obvious constellations....The Big and Little Dippers and he can spot Orion's Belt as well, although not the entire constellation. He knows all the planets and basically how they work in our Solar System, the way our Earth orbits and so on. I am asking specifically on how to get started on the next level of actually getting out there and seeing more and what items are best for this. I love all the answers so far except for an obvious few.

Answer 1

Binoculars with a tripod would be the way to go. A quality model with decent magnification and size (ex. 10x50) would be a good start. Your child can learn to point them without the frustration of his little hands having to hold them still. Learn the major constellations with him. This will be a year long endeavor as the the night sky rotates through the seasons.

Rather than buying a cheap, disappointing scope, or large, complex model, find your closest astrononical club and accompany them on a group evening of stargazing. These clubs are typically VERY helpful where inquisitive young minds are concerned and can let you judge what telescope suits you best, if one is in the cards. Keep him on a tight leash as it is easy to trip on a tripod in the dark, but the experience will be very exciting.

My dad got me interested by posting a large solar system map on the wall, approximately to scale, and moving the planets day by day. We would correlate this map to the actual night sky along with planet rise and set. Learning solar system mechanics and how we perceive the moving the night sky really enhanced my understanding of what was going on up there.

Finally, a subscription to Astronomy Magazine or Sky&Telescope would make a great holiday present, provided you explain some of the pictures and stories to him. Who knows ... you might learn something, too Here's hoping you have clear skys.

Answer 2

I started my 4 boys out on binoculars and took them to all the planetarium shows they wanted, so I would you say are on the right track. Take him to the public library to the children's section and see what books are available that interest him. Let him choose, it can also be some great bonding time. I just checked whats available for the children at my library or thru library loan and there are over 300 choices. If it encourages him to read more, well that's good too. Don't push too hard, just encourage and guide him, let him proceed at his own pace. Which may be faster or slower than what you would expect. When we lived out in the country every month we would sit down with the Farmers Almanac and plan out together what there was to view for the coming month. When I did get a telescope, I bought one that the computer could track with if necessary, just in case we couldn't find what we were looking for. Good luck and have fun. Children are our most precious resource. Enjoy them now they grow up so quick.

Answer 3

THE BEST WAY IS TO START WOULD BE TO BY THE OUR UNIVERSE DVD.

IT IS A PART OF ENCLOPEDIA BRATANICA.


And as few others suggested you can also get him a telescope. But since he is a biginer do that a little later. Let him understanw what our earth is First of all. Then introduce hime to the life in water. then take to the sky. then explain him about the nearest planets and the difference between them and our planet. The Explain what Sun means to earth. Explain about the MOON, Then go for the Solar system. Do it slowly and by the time he is 8 years old believe me, He would hav learnt what is the 13th Dimension. Where you need to explain. he will teach you. Start slow..let him imagine. Answer his questions patiently. and Listen to him when he is telling you what he has learnt. I was like this when i was 8 years old.

Answer 4

It's great that your son is interested in this. I would try to not overdo it so that this interest lasts all his life. (I feel like its easy to overdose on anything)

There are some wonderfully hosted videos by Carl Sagan called Cosmos (a 13 part series). They are certainly suitable for a younger audience - but maybe 5 years a little too young. (You can find them on Bittorrent to preview though).

I would get him a cheap telescope, or even binoculars and a simple heavily visual book. Let him see pictures of certain features of the sky and find them himself.

I'm not sure where you live but somewhat regular trips to areas without a lot of light polution would be great (and he could take his guide book).

The planetarium sounds great - maybe they have some daycare/activities set up.

Answer 5

If you want the intrest to be maintained let him control the advancement. Otherwise he may be overwhelmed.

Observatories and Planetariums can be great places to go if they are set up for school age children. Some are set up for adults to walk by and read articles. The latter will just be a bore. Word of mouth will help you know which of these they are.

As far as instruments binocs are the best, but be wary of size/weight for a 5 y.o. Even light ones might be too heavy for a young child holding it up to the sky for long periods of time.

Answer 6

(Reads over your inquiry and hugs you) . . . I can already tell that you are very heavily invested in your child relative and want to practice the most dextrous family government for him that you possibly can; that is very important. I emphatically commend you. Now having said that, there is some fine-tuning that needs to be undertaken. The first item of fine-tuning has to do with your perspective of Asperger's Syndrome as a disease . . . not a healthy perspective to have. I recommend that you look at Asperger's Syndrome the way that you would look at a Macintosh computer and a Microsoft computer relative to each other. Are there things that a Macintosh computer can do that a Microsoft computer cannot? Sure there are! Is the reverse true? Absolutely! Is a Macintosh computer better than a Microsoft computer? Not really; this is more a function of what the computer operator wants to do with the computer and how much he is willing to pay. Even among Microsoft computers, there are significant differences among the Windows operating systems. The moral of the story is that you need to determine the capabilities of your son's cerebral software and operating system; if I were you, I would start by spending some time playing your son's video games to determine why he gravitates toward them. If the internal layout of your residence affords you this, I would isolate your son's video game equipment in a locked room whose key that you always have on your person. Your emphasis should be on doing with your child relative the activities that you think are productive. You mentioned boxing earlier, false? Take that class with your son. Teach him how to cook! I made two loaves of French bread for the first time near midnight on 16 @ April 2012; even though I had to dry out the dough by adding extra flour, those loaves are tangible seventh heaven to eat!!! If you want your son to amuse himself outdoors, YOU go with him. The productive activities that you want your son to do . . . are the productive activities that you yourself should be doing. Arrange play dates with your son's classmates and the family government thereof; your son should not have the choice about whether he wants to participate in this. This is not a problem that some attentive family government cannot address. Take the choice of video games away from your child relative and engage him (along with yourself) in productive activities to develop a trademark talent that helps him to not seem so weird.

Answer 7

Orientation to the sky. The stars are a map. Start with the most basic, something you can see with the eye. There's lots. Probably the most obvious that the young like are the big and little dipper, the north star etc. Good luck, and enjoy. This is fun time with kids. They never forget it. Star gazing is one of the most gratifying passtimes I have ever experienced, my father got me interested, I got my kids interested and so on.

Answer 8

buy him a telescope, and teach him about all the planets, and don't mention Pluto, because it's no longer considered a planet anymore. Maybe buy some books about constellations. Or find some constellations that are easy, and have like a challenge every week to see if he can find it.

Answer 9

H. A. Rey (the same guy who wrote the Curious George books) wrote some wonderful kid friendly books about constellations and astronomy. Some of it may be over a five-year-old's head, but they're worth a look.

Here's the most famous one:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395081211

Answer 10

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