ABOUT KIDS: JUST THREE THINGS

There are just three things -- already in place -- to bear in mind in helping young children to understand basic physics:

1)  Children play................................they touch things and use them,
                                                                  they use their energy,
                                                                  they know how outside forces feel to them
                                                              
2)  Children learn language..............that's what children's brains are designed to do

3)  Children are natural scientists....try one thing, if it doesn't work, try another

Put 'em all together and what've you got?   Steppingstones to understanding physics: 

       1)   Feel the physical sensation of riding down a slide

       2)   It took ENERGY to climb up against the force of GRAVITY. 
       Going down, GRAVITY does the work, save your ENERGY!

       3)   If, however, you were wearing a wet bathing suit, you didn't go far. 
       What to do, what might work? 
       Reduce the FRICTION.......Sit on top of something dry!

                                                            "Wheeee!"