If you are the parent of a toddler or preschooler, you must be familiar with the awe in their eyes when they look up into the sky, search for the moon, or count stars. Yes, that curiosity and love start young!
But how much can a 4 or 5-year-old understand about something so complex? What is a solar system for kids? Does teaching them about the solar system for kids from such a young age help? And how can we make these lessons fun? — Read on to answer all these questions about introducing your child to the solar system!
Benefits Of Learning About The Solar System For Kids
Learning about the solar system will encourage curiosity and promote early scientific thinking among your kids. What is a solar system for kids? It is the perfect starting point to introduce basic science concepts. Let us look at all the benefits that learning about solar systems can offer.
Image source: Pexels
1. Teaches the importance of Earth
When your child learns about all the planets, one of the first things they will understand is how special Earth is. From being the only planet with water to having the perfect temperature to sustain life, there’s no other home like Earth for us! This will motivate your child to love and look after our environment from a young age. You can enrich this learning with Montessori toys designed to teach children about the planet Earth and the environment in a hands-on way.
2. Lays the foundation for endless curiosity
Is there a story more ancient than that of our universe? Hearing about the origin of each planet and the earliest forms of life on Earth will pique your child’s natural inquisitiveness. To help them visualize the planets, consider using fun and colourful solar system images for kids. This may go a long way, pushing them to ask intelligent questions about everything they encounter as they grow! You can also pair these solar system images for kids with pretend play toys for their easier understanding.
3. Cultivates a love for science
Astronomy is the perfect mix of physics and math! When it comes to slightly older children, learning about our solar system is a great way to get them interested in understanding the power of precise calculations and different scientific phenomena. For hands-on learning, Arts and crafts activities for kids related to space can be a great way to go.
4. Perfect bonding activity
From star gazing to solar system toys for kids to watching awesome space documentaries, there are so many exciting and interactive ways to learn about our solar system. If you have a space nerd in the family or just want to learn more as you teach your child, cultivating this love together could be the perfect bonding activity! Use homeschool toys that reinforce their space knowledge in a fun and educational way.
What Is The Right Age To Start Teaching Solar System For Kids?
With complex concepts like time and space, the solar system is not easy for even adults to understand! So what is a solar system for kids? Of course, a young child is not going to comprehend the depths of the subject. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait until they grow a lot older to talk about it.
While children may be formally introduced to the solar system when they are 9 or 10 years old, you can start talking to them about the planets, sun, and moon from the time they are preschoolers. Teaching solar system for preschoolers could be simple, using toys and stories to help them grasp the concepts. Using solar system images for kids is a great way to help them grasp basic ideas, like the sun being the centre and the planets moving around it. If you are starting even more early, space-themed baby teething toys can be a creative way to do it.
Want to draw the solar system? Watch this video to find out a quick and easy way to do so with just a stencil and some colourful crayons! |
Explain with simple examples. Young children understand what they can see, so pointing at the stars or using solar system model for kids is an excellent way to help them visualize. You can start by talking about our planet, the 8 planets who are ‘our group of friends’ and our loving, nurturing sun! As your child grows interested and starts asking questions, share a little more each time. You can also teach how to draw solar system for kids.
5 Playful Ways To Introduce Space And Solar System For Kids!
Make learning about space exciting by turning it into interactive activities filled with fun and learning. Use creative methods to make complex concepts easy for children to grasp. Here are 5 playful ways how you can do it.
1. Use the sky as your canvas
There’s an instant sense of wonder that occurs when we look into the sky, isn’t there? Use this opportunity to play some simple games. Count how many stars you can see in the night sky, join the dots to make different shapes, or teach your child about the different constellations.
Whether you visit a planetarium, go camping in a pollution-free area, or just look out of your window at night, the sky is a perfect, ever-present canvas to play with and introduce the solar system for kids! In addition to star-gazing, you can use solar system images for kids to teach them about the constellations and the planets in a fun, interactive way.
2. Play With Solar System Toys For Kids
Another fun way to introduce solar system for kids is with simple games. At Shumee, we have a special range of games and solar system toys for kids that we co-created with Dia Mirza.
You can check out our solar system toys for kids:
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Wooden Solar System Playset With 52 Cards- Planet On Wheels
The Planet on Wheels is a colourful and interactive toy that introduces planets in a fun and hands-on way. The wooden planets, space play mat and snap cards with interesting rhymes and information are perfect for little learners. You can play in different ways using this unique toy – match them or roll them, do some exploration or learn interesting facts. This engaging toy is designed to foster curiosity and learning in toddlers
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Take Me Home - Space Adventure Board Game
Explore the cosmos with this space adventure board game. This fun and educational game designed to teach solar system for preschoolers, introduces basic astronomy concepts while promoting learning through play. It is a great way to get them interested in our planet, environment and outer space making them the future eco warriors.
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Solar System Memory Card Game Set with 20 Cards
This memory card game set helps children learn about planets and space while sharpening memory and observation skills. Featuring beautifully designed solar system images for kids, it encourages kids to learn interesting facts about the solar system in a playful manner.
These games are not only oodles of fun, but will also help your little one learn about our planet, its environment, and how they can be its lifelong stewards.
3. Enjoy space-themed books
No matter what the subject you’re trying to teach your child, there’s nothing like a good story to get them intrigued! As we all know, children love books. An engaging storytime with books having solar system images for kids can get them curious about anything from earth to outer space!
Looking for stories and characters your child can relate to? Check out our collection of Indian story books for Indian children! |
4. Share fun facts about the planets
Every planet is unique in its own way and your child will love knowing strange and awesome facts about each planet! From Jupiter’s many moons to Saturn’s rings to how Uranus rolls sideways, there is endless potential for play and learning when getting to know our solar system.
If you’d like to help your child memorize some easy facts, our solar system snap cards come with rhymes for each planet, the sun, and the moon!
5. Make a DIY solar system
Nothing beats the fun of creating your own solar system model for kids! Use this as a chance to do some upcycling – paint a cardboard box black as the base and add painted paper mache balls as the sun and planets around space! Another creative activity will be to teach how to draw a solar system for kids on paper.
This could also be a chance to ask your child to create their very own planet. What shape, size, and colour would it be? What would they call it? Get them to make a little model and place it in our solar system! In the end reward them with something like a small kid’s return gift, for their efforts.
Conclusion
Introducing your little one to the solar system is a beautiful way to encourage their curiosity and creativity. Did you know India is the only country that cites the development of scientific temper in its Constitution? By introducing the solar system for kids and nurturing their natural inquisitiveness, you’re contributing to this vision in your special way.
Explore Shumee’s thoughtfully designed games and solar system toys for kids, created to make learning exciting and interactive. Transform their endless “whys” into a lifetime of discovery—because, for your child, the universe is just waiting to be explored!
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar System For Kids
How To Explain Solar System For Kids
Explain the solar system as a family of planets that orbit around the sun. Use, toys, solar system images for kids and simple language to make it relatable. You can compare planets to friends in a circle around the sun
What Are 5 Facts About Planets For Kids
- Mercury is the smallest planet.
- Venus spins the opposite way of Earth.
- Earth is the only planet with life.
- Saturn has beautiful rings.
- Uranus rotates on its side.
How To Teach Kids About Stars
Take them outdoors at night. Point out the stars and explain that they are balls of fire like the sun. Use books, animations or solar system images for kids to show more and tell fun stories involving stars. You can find resources at NASA space place.
In What Grade Do You Learn About Planets
Kids typically start learning about planets in Grade 3 or Grade 4 as a part of their curriculum. Introducing the solar system for preschoolers can be a great way to spark their curiosity much earlier.
What Is A Solar System For Kids?
The solar system is a group of planets, moons, and the sun. The planets orbit the sun, and each planet has its own features. This is the simplest way to explain solar system for kids.