How to Explain Why the Sky Is Blue to a Toddler

Toddlers ask some tough questions. Why is the grass green? Why do birds fly? Here are some ideas to teach your toddler why the sky is blue. Good luck!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Batteries
• Batteries
• Batteries
• Garden Hoses And Attachments
• Garden-hose Nozzles
• Children's Flashlights
• Flashlights
• Flashlights

1. Tell your toddler that the sun's light is actually made of different colors all mixed together, but when it reaches the earth's air, all the colors scatter. The color blue gets scattered the most, so that's we see.

2. Play with light to show how light can spread out. Get an old flashlight or a children's flashlight and play in a dim or dark room. Shine the light on walls and in mirrors. Talk about how light travels for very long distances. Point out how it is more intense or brighter when shining on something close versus something faraway.

3. Play with a prism to show how light is made up of different colors. A prism and a flashlight will create natural rainbows. Discuss the colors you see, which colors you see more of and which colors are brighter.

4. Look for rainbows on rainy days to reinforce the idea that light can be separated into colors. Talk about clouds and rain. Talk about the sun and how it creates the colors when it shines on the raindrops. You can make rainbows with a hose and spray nozzle on a sunny day, too.

5. Refer to your light experiments when discussing the sky. Talk about how the water in the air creates colors when the sun shines through the water. Notice clouds and talk about the colors you see. Explain that clouds hold water and are a different color than the sky. Break out the hose again while you are talking outside; your child will remember the concept even better.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy books that promote scientific discussion or activity for your child.
• Let your child experiment and play freely while discussing light. Forcing your child to listen or talking "over your toddler's head" will frustrate you and your toddler.
• Make sure the darkened room you are playing in with flashlights is properly babyproofed.

[CrazyAce]

on 3/21/2008 "GOD MADE IT THAT WAY."
How stupid are parents these days anyway???