Sharing the Love of Astronomy with Your Child

Of course, nothing can be forced when it comes to a child's interest. But if you have an interest or love of the stars and other heavenly bodies, you might find it's pretty easy to foster your child's love of them as well with just a small amount of encouragement and time.

The first step you'll want to take is to buy a telescope. A telescope that allows your child to see the moon close up (use a filter if you're viewing the full moon or it'll be a shock!) will be good enough for now. Places like Toys R Us and Discovery.com have these. You can always check out Ebay, Craigslist or the classifieds for less expensive, used ones.

Spending quality time outside with your child has benefits all its own. You'll want to lie in the grass (or snow) and stargaze with your child. Point out the Milky Way band running down the center of the sky, Venus, the Big Dipper (to get started). When your child is ready, introduce Astronomy software (Virtual Planetarium; Starry Night; Stellarium are some examples).

Now that you'll be able to accurately map the stars in your area, why not buy some glow-in-the-dark star stickers and help your child decorate his ceiling with them? The placement of the stars doesn't have to be completely accurate, you could always design his favorite constellations or star systems. It's both fun and educational, and every night your child will feel like he's stargazing.

Take the time to gather coffee tables astronomy books. There are so many of these books available, I've seen them at Barnes and Noble and other booksellers in the lower-priced sections up front. Glossy, over-sized renderings of stars, nebulas and galaxies are exquisite, and once your child has gained an appreciation, they will become even more magical.

Astronomical events take place all the time. Solar and lunar eclipses (lunar being more frequent); meteor showers; comets - all of these are celebration-worthy. Pop popcorn and enjoy the event together. Get online afterward to learn more about these cosmic events. Your child will be fascinated to learn that a lunar eclipse occurring in one area, will not be occurring in another. Sometimes these events (usually highly viewable comets) get written up in the paper. Take the time to cut these articles out with your child and save a place for them in the scrapbook.

Constellations have mythological roots, why not read with your child about their origins. You'll be blending three values - parent-child bonding; reading practice; and learning about our history, all at the same time.

Some of the noteworthy astronomical events happening soon are:

July 28th - Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower
August 13 - Perseids Meteor Shower
August 28 - Total Lunar Eclipse (viewing includes the Americas)
September 11 - Partial Solar Eclipse (viewing does not include Americas, but event will probably be able to be viewed online)