Entertaining kids at the 'scope?

[casstony]

I'm looking for ideas on how to keep young kids entertained under the night sky. If my scope is set up before the kids are in bed they love to be out there with me, but it's a struggle to keep coming up with new ideas.

The moon and Saturn always please them. The biggest hit so far was when I pointed out the bright light moving through the stars, then explained that it was a space station with people in it and that they got there in a rocket: my 7yo daughter was jumping up and down shouting "wow that's amazing". My 3yo boy is keen but struggling with the basics; he says he can see the moon even when even when I can see the eyepiece projecting a circle of light onto his forehead. He also gets really angry on the trampoline when he can't jump all the way up to the sky.

So if you have good experiences with kids to share, I'd like to hear them.
-Tony

[ving (David)]

satelites if your sky allows.... basically my (at the time) 12 yo daughter was stoke to see satellites crossing the sky.... that lasted for a while. she is now too cool to hang out with me in the backyard tho @ 15
but while she was interested she'd grab the spare scope and put it next to mine and look at the moon and i'd help her with planets and such too...

Hi Tony,

I work with Children at the scope all the time at the Mapleton observatory, I also have a 7 year daughter and my wife is a professional child care worker with 21 years experience under her belt. (She provides me with professional guidance when working with kids at the observatory)

My opinion is this, children love space but not the kind you see through a telescope, they are interested for about 10 seconds per year of there age until they are 11 or 12 (then they discover hormones). Expecting a 3 year old to even guage eye relief is unrealistic as much as you want him to see well he just wont get it or he will tell you he see's in an attempt to please dad. Give him time and dont bore him with it now, you will turn him off it by the time he is old enough to enjoy it. Your 7 year old will only enjoy the wow factor objects like moon and saturn but nebula etc will be boring, they just dont see what we see or think the same way we think about it, Children can not guage perceptual distance until they are about 8 years old, this is why they get hit by cars so often, they certainly wont understand light years etc., granted that there are the gifted and talented kids out there but mostly they are at the eyepiece to please you. I am willing to bet though that when they are in their 30's they will both take a renewed interest in it because dad did. 95% of all astronomers, amateur or professional are older than 40, it's just life and as much as I want my daughter interested she just isn't. having said that, I dont get much out of playing barbie dolls either. cheers, Dennis.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

My nine year old likes to find stuff for me. He knows where to find Jup, Saturn, Orions Neb. etc so I use him as a remote controlled go-to.
The 7 yr old is a different matter. Not much interest in the actual telescope, so I put a blanket down on the ground and get him to spot satellites and meteors.
The kids have their 60mm refractor that holds up well to knocks and sticky fingers.

[Striker (Tony)]

My best experience with my Kids is when I sold them off to buy new telescope equipment...now I have no kids left but more equipment.

Onya Tony,

So that's where I have been going wrong!!!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Tony,

the best advice I can give concerning kids at the scope is 'Make It Fun'.

Never talk in scientific terms (light-years, hydrogen etc) and be excited when you look at something. That makes them WANT to see it too.

As far as the 3 yo, buy him a cheap little scope that he can use himself and he can have the Moon on his forehead as much as he likes. But don't try and take over. If he wants Saturn where Orion is, just say 'well done'.

Let your 7 yo take over the controls and let her find things in the sky! Works wonders.

Don't show them galaxies then nebs then planets. They must be shown in order and with growing excitement. I start with Moon then planets. Then I will excitedly say "would you like to see something even further away?". Then show then 47Tuc or Omega Cent. Then say "how about something even further away!" This is where you can show them the nebs and galaxies.

If you want to keep them interested, you will have to put on a show. Make it exciting, growing in intensity. If you get excited, they will too.

[ving (David)]

gee you even have me exited ken!!!
you are a natural.

[casstony]

Thanks guys for the suggestions and warnings. I think Ken is onto something with that idea of asking the kids if they'd like to see stuff progressively futher away. If anyone has anymore presentation techniques like this post away.

I am surprised that fellow named "Houghy" hasn't suggested buying a couple more 'scopes to keep the kids happy:-).

-Tony

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by ving

gee you even have me exited ken!!!
you are a natural.

He sure is! Some people have a gift for entertaining kids, others for scaring them off. I've only showed a few things to friends' kids and only ever had real enthusiasm from a 7 or 8 y.o. girl upon seeing Jupiter. Usually it's just: "Okay, can I go now?"

[iceman (Mike)]

Tony,

I've got 3 kids, an almost 7 year old boy, an almost 5 year old girl and an almost 2 year old girl.

My son Jacob is interested in most things space and astronomy, and has been able to recite the planets in order and how many moons they each have for a couple of years. But he's also interested mainly because Daddy is interested He likes watching the shuttle launch etc, and the few DVD's I've got on spaceflight etc he enjoys watching from time to time.

The girls are too young to really care, although my 2 year old LOVES looking at the moon and gets really excited. Of course i'm just talking naked eye, not through the scope. It's hard trying to explain to her why we can't see it EVERY night though when she asks.. (clouds, wrong phase etc). She likes looking at stars too.

I take Jacob out to look through the telescope from time to time, he likes looking at the moon and planets, but I've found he can also understand star clusters quite easily. I make sure it's not above him by asking him "what do you see?", and if his explanation matches what I see, then I know he's "got it". I ask how many moons he can see on Saturn etc, and he's usually spot on (5 moons around Saturn, etc).

Of course it's tricky getting them to approach the eyepiece with care, not to bump their head on it, and not to lean on the scope as they move in. I usually just guide him in until he's got his bearings.

I had a great time with my son at IISAC earlier this year, just lying on the grass (on the last night when it wasn't dewey) looking for meteors and satellites. Sometimes they are the best moments spent together without equipment.

The main thing is, I make sure I don't force my interest on my kids. I'd love it if they turn out to have an interest in space & astronomy, but it has to be an independant interest, and not just feigned interest because Daddy loves it.

Hope my input helps!

[casstony]

Counting moons sounds good. I will get some video of a shuttle launch/Apollo launch so I can show the kids the rocket that is used to get to the ISS.

We're conscious of not forcing the kids into activities; I have quite the opposite situation here; if I want to observe alone I have to sneak outside and not let the kids see me setting up. Their interest is what has me looking for ways to entertain.

-Tony

[ving (David)]

i find that anything that involves hurting ones self is quite entertaining to kids too....

*trip* gah darn tripod led!!!!
limp, limp

hehe!
of course that didnt hgelp here at all...