Slashdot Mirror
What Can 4-yr-olds Understand About Science?
dr.karl.b asks: "My 3 and a half year old son is in Kindergarten. Here in Germany that includes 3 to 6 year olds. He is supposed to explain what his parents' occupations are. I am a scientist, and despite all the advice I have received saying he can't understand what I do, I am determined to try. I study self-motion perception, from basic-science vestibular processing to the role of real-motion cues in flight simulation. We have several cool labs in my institute, like robot-arm motion simulators and full-immersion virtual reality set-ups. We can easily compete with amusement parks for wow-factor, but I have 2 questions: How can I explain my work to my son? How can I invite his class (3-6 yr olds) to our institute to have them learn AND have fun, rather than ONLY have fun?"
"I have enrolled my child in school as early as possible, robbing him of his blissfull childhood, so that me and my wife can go on with our day jobs. I wonder if it was right to take away something he can never have back? As it stands, he won't remember his play years at all and his earliest memories will be of school. Oh dear... I guess he will want to drop out as soon as possible then, and certainly not get an advanced degree. We were actually thinking that he would get ahead, by starting work earlier and thus be able to afford retirement earlier, but now I realize that I got it all wrong... Kids should get to play because most seniours don't bother."