1. Bring science to kids' attention.
When traveling in the car or taking a walk, help kids notice that science is all around them. Point out cloud formations, pick up acorns, or comment on the direction the wind is blowing.

2. Ask engaging questions.
Get kids thinking. How do acorns become trees? Why do cakes rise? Where does snow come from?

3. Plan experiments together.
Make it a priority to investigate the topics that interest your child, or introduce a brand-new area of discovery.

4. Perform experiments together.
Help knead some slime or trace some leaves! Your enthusiasm for learning will be infectious.

5. Be part of the discovery team.
Don't feel like you have to know all the answers. Sharing in the experiment process is a key element of the fun.

Fill a Science Shoe Box
VanCleave recommends that parents help kids put together a science shoe box so they're always ready to experiment. Here are her essentials:

• Spiral notebook for recording questions, ideas, and discoveries
• Pencil and crayons to sketch what's been observed
• Scissors to snip and trim samples and to cut paper
• Magnifying lens for a closer look
• Clear tape for securing samples, like leaves, to the notebook's pages
• Resealable bags or empty egg cartons to store specimens