Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids (Paperback, Age 9+)

His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities and Thought Experiments (For Kids series)

When you raise children to think for themselves, be good analysts and make clear and concise decisions based on what they discovered, we as parents, may not always like what our children have come to theorize and believe. But, really, why would we be upset when our children think for themselves in a good scientific approach unless the outcome completely differs from our own opinions, right?  While I have not run into this yet since my children are still quite young, I certainly experienced it first-hand with my own family. There are certain truths we all hold in many areas (science, religion, culture, etc.) and we laughingly think that our children will certainly believe our truths. We came to that conclusion! How could they not? After all, we believe EVERYTHING our PARENTS did, right?  RIGHT?  *tee hee*  Well, children can and do learn and discover and they may think *gasp* differently than us. Say what???  How you react as a parent to these differences seems to have a lot to do with how much the parent-child relationship struggles during the so-called dreaded ‘teen-years’.

BUT!  Cough, Cough!  There is one VERY interesting thing to note; many things we believe in our society is based on theories and not fact.

Come on now.  What?

Well, what is a theory?

A theory is a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.  A synonym for the word theory is assumption. Yes, many things children study and what we can base our very career on in life can be based on just one (of perhaps millions) particular view of something with just one method (of, again, perhaps millions) of doing it.

Do we really think we have the only correct answer to everything? I certainly hope not!

As an analyst (yes, I get paid to think), I like to be able to look at different theories to come up with potential solutions and I always find it interesting when a person believes something to be true when in reality it was just something they heard from somewhere that had no basis on anything that was through documented policy. As a very curious person, my curiosity used to make me very unpopular with those who had rock solid beliefs who were not open to discuss them, but in my career life, that very desire to be well-informed has been an asset.

How Experiments and Theoretical Writing Create ‘Einsteins’

If you read a lot or have interest in things like theoretical physics than you may feel – like me- that the more precise descriptions and explanations of the subject matter make theoretical writing so much more interesting and rich. One great example of an author who has given us such detailed information on his theories is Albert Einstein. Einstein’s popular writings on Special and General Relativity are amazing examples of how a theory can become a proposed explanation to something that is regarded as reporting matters as actual fact.  Chicago Review Press has a great book on Albert Einstein and his ideas complete with activities and thought experiments perfect for kids who are searching for answers in the realm o’ science!

I love how Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids children’s book makes information FUN and how Einstein changed the world of science forever and that impact is ALWAYS possible.  The exercises – um, I mean science experiments, of course – are really fun while having backed up information on why it is also important to do experiments. Kids may tend to focus on making Peeps into big marshmallow puffs in the microwave or how driving a car with parents can teach you about relative motion, but it is this hands-on learning for the kids that makes this information stick. If there is one thing that can be said about Einstein, it is that he was a very broad minded thinker. The next ‘Einstein’ will be curious and ready to approach experiments and activities with an open mind and no fear of failure, and this book could very well be read to that little one right now. Enjoy!

Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids (Paperback, Age 9+)
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
List Price: $ 16.95