h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was happy to explain to my darling daughters a detailed explaination of what they were curious about. After the first few times when I gave them scientific explainations of what bothered them, they seldom came back!

Cruel, perhaps but realistic.

I agree with your method. Instill a scientific attitude as early as possible. However, don't forget the "beauty factor". Follow:

Even we scientists have to admit, things can get mind-numbingly, forehead-bleeding, shoot-yourself-and-get-it-over-with boring. Equations, formulae, data, and a complete lack of involvement with the opposite sex (unless you're studying sex).

(Note to self: start topic on "Why scientists can't get laid".)

Sure, we can tell you all about what gasses comprise any given star in the sky, it's magnitude, velocity, ad nauseum... but even all this science doesn't distract from one main reality: Looking at the Horsehead Nebula is breathtaking. Laying flat on your back at night watching a meteor shower light up the sky is awesome.

Show your darling daughters that science can be beautiful (and fun). Explain how fireworks work, and then set some off. Quantify gravity for them, then drop melons off the roof of the house. They may deem you a real "git" now, but later, they'll thank you for helping them understand Life, the Universe, and Everything...

banzai

LOL

Well said.

My daughters are all *old* now, the oldest being 26. But point well taken. I think I may have done that, I believe that giving them the best explaination I could opened their minds. They have turned into the greates achievement of my life, after all.

Ah well it depends on what you want to achieve. When asked 'What's wrong with our computer daddy?', a coworker of mine recently told his 4-year-old son things like 'I think the DHCP needs to be fixed. But I need to run the IPCONFIG utility first'.

I still don't know if he wants to be left in peace or if he's just so y that he doesn't realise what's a good explanation for kids and what not. But he surely isn't asked that often...

SchrEck Inc.

Thats the same answer I gave to the where do babies come from question.
that will teach them to interrupt me when I am sleeping.

Granted, a 4-year old is a bit young to understand DHCP and IPCONFIG (why does one need to run ipconfig if he/she's using dhcp? Isn't it automatically getting the ip?), but the real key is to explain things as scientifically -as possible- that the person can understand.

Tell the little one that the computer didn't have the right ZIP code, and the post office is working on it... Then play post office.

banzai