When Your Child Has to Do a Science Fair Project, Don't Panic

There comes a time during the school year when many schools hold science fairs, an inevitably parents need to become involved when their child comes home from school with an assignment to do a science fair project. Parents need to guide their student in the developing and carrying out a science fair project. Working together also helps create a bond between parent and child. Here are a few helpful tips for parents:

Before proceeding, be sure you know the rules. Read any handouts with guidelines that the teacher may distribute. You don't want to spend time working on something that won't be allowed to be entered in the fair. Also, make sure your project idea is presented to the teacher and has the teacher's approval.

Remember, safety is the most important consideration, and anything that could be a hazard may not be suitable for the project. Adult supervision is advisable, especially during the experimentation phase of working on a project. There must also be respect for life. No living thing, nor the environment, can be harmed by doing the project.

So, how does a student come up with ideas for a science fair project? Why not start by looking around right where you are! Look under that old board outside that's been laying on the ground for a long time. Who lives under it?

What general subjects does your child like best? Selecting a topic based on a subject that is interesting to him or her will make the project more stimulating, and increase the chances for success. Does your child play a musical instrument? If so, investigate the physics of how it makes sound. Is he interested in sports? If so, are colored baseballs easier to see against the sky than white baseballs?

The Internet is another valuable source for getting ideas for science fair projects. Log on to http://sciencefairprojectideas.blogspot.com for free science project ideas, or simply use Google, Yahoo! or any other search engine and enter "science fair projects". There are many great books on the market with project ideas for both elementary and high school fairs.

When a child does a science fair project, there are many benefits beyond just the learning that takes place. Following the "scientific method" (that is, the step by step process of creating a hypothesis, developing and carrying out an experiment, and examining the results), helps a child focus on clear and logical thinking. Doing a project may also be a motivation for a student to continue study and investigation in a particular area of science well after the project is complete.

Encourage your child to participate in his or her school science fair. It will be a very rewarding experience for them, and for you!