The Ancient Technique I’m Teaching My Kids

Dads, this ancient technique has led to some of history's greatest discoveries.

It’s centuries-old (~ 13th century) and even more practical today than ever.

And I'm teaching it to my kids.

Einstein lived by it.

This simple yet proven technique can be used just as much in life as in business or in science.

That timeless technique:

The scientific method.

Ok that was a lot of build up. 

Let me tell you why I'm teaching my kids the scientific method and how I’m making it fun.

Even for children as young as 3.

The scientific method is a simple, profound way to snap up knowledge like Mario nabbing mushrooms.

It is this method that leads to new discoveries. 

The beauty is that it starts with curiosity and is rooted in trying (experimentation).

And although science is in the name, it doesn’t take a scientist. 
  
The scientific method teaches that failure (trial and error) is part of the process.
 
And we learn as much from what doesn’t work than what does.

And data is the true indicator of outcome.

I have found a fun way to make it a part of my 3 and 4-year-olds' daily life.

We play a game called “What Floats?”

No this isn't a poop joke.

At bathtime, we scan the bathroom for things we think might float in the bathtub (observe).

We ask the question: "which bathroom item will float?" (question)

We look for items that we think might float and come up with guesses of why we think it might float (hypothesis).

Then we drop it in the tub and see what happens (baby sister is off limits) (experiment).

We see what floats and what sinks (analysis).

And we keep retrying with new items.

We start to see a pattern (knowledge).

It's beautiful. 

It's simple.

You can take try it out with almost anything like:

"What can you add to lemonade to make it sweeter?"

Or the next time your child asks, “why do some balloons float?”

Instead of just telling them the answer, ask them what they think.

And turn it into a science experiment.

Yes, you might burn half a day but what better way to kill a rainy Sunday than to experiment?

And I also realized that I use the scientific method almost every day.

At work and in life.

I use it to:

Test and find the right message that will land with potential clients.

Or identify what is wrong with our two-year-old oven.

And my kids use this approach to figure out how they can squeeze another snack out of daddio. 

Kids are born with the intuition to use the scientific method.

It is how they learn to walk, talk and stop pooping their pants.

The challenge is as kids get older.

Failure becomes less accepted…

Most stop using the scientific method unless they are in a science lab.

That is why making the scientific method a learning tool is so important for my family and me. 

Even if they don’t study science, this approach will treat them well in business or daily life.

and just maybe one day…

They will discover something that has never been discovered.