Using Apps to Engage All Families in Science Exploration

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Exploring science from an early age can improve school readiness and provide children with a strong foundation for future scientific understanding. Many young children, however, lack opportunities to engage in meaningful science exploration. Moreover, significant disparities in science achievement exist between children from low-income families and those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. These achievement gaps are present at the beginning of school and widen as children progress through middle and high school (Morgan et al. 2016). Prior to formal schooling, parents play an important role in their children’s learning. Although parents reported in a recent study that they feel equipped to support their child’s development of math, literacy, and social-emotional skills, they reported lower levels of confidence in science. This was especially true for parents with lower levels of education (Silander et al. 2018). When it comes to engaging children in science learning at home, additional barriers exist for Spanish-speaking families, who often lack access to culturally responsive science materials in their primary language. Research suggests, however, that the right supports and resources can boost parent engagement with their children in science activities (Benjamin, Haden, and Wilkerson 2010).

Keywords:

• Early Childhood
• Informal Education
• Preschool
• Technology

Additional Resources

Below we offer recommendations for additional science apps and resources that parents and educators can use with young children and a guide for selecting quality resources.

• How to Evaluate Online Science Resources for Early Learners: This article offers five guiding questions for educators and parents when vetting science resources for young children.

• Cat in the Hat Builds That: Based on the animated series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, this PBS KIDS app includes science and engineering activities for children and their parents.

• Early Science With Nico and Nor: This resource include a three-unit curriculum for plants, ramps, and shadows with app-based, digital, and hands-on activities.

• Outdoor Family Fun With Plum: This PBS KIDS app offers daily outdoor activities for parents and children to explore their neighborhood and learn about nature.

• Play and Learn Science: This app helps parents support their children with games and hands-on activities that focus on core science concepts and science inquiry skills.

• Sid’s Science Fair: Based on the PBS KIDS animated series Sid the Science Kid, this app includes a series of games that engage children in core science and math concepts.

Acknowledgment

This study is supported by the National Science Foundation, grant #1612643. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

PEEP Family Science was developed by WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston: Children’s Media’s Marisa Wolsky; Education’s Mary Haggerty, Sonja Latimore, Borgna Brunner, and Gay Mohrbacher; and Digital’s Jillian Orr, Ayelet Ronen, Kevin Lesniewicz, Li Wei, Jeff Bartell, and Sienna Haines, along with Kal Gieber, Jesse Haley, Mollie Levin, Bill Shribman, Jay Thompson, and Lizzy Walbridge.

Notes on contributors section

Jennifer Stiles ([email protected]) is a research associate at Education Development Center in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Megan Silander ([email protected]) is a research scientist at the Education Development Center’s Center for Children and Technology in New York, New York.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer Stiles

Jennifer Stiles ([email protected]) is a research associate at Education Development Center in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Megan Silander

Megan Silander ([email protected]) is a research scientist at the Education Development Center’s Center for Children and Technology in New York, New York.