Hobbies And Interests
Readings from Earth
Read age-appropriate books with your child that will encourage his excitement about the sun, moon and stars. For children ages 4 and older, "There's No Place Like Space" by Tish Rabe, uses the familiar Cat in the Hat to teach kids about the entire solar system while on an adventure with Dick and Sally. For kids ages 8 and older, the book "Sun, Moon and Stars: A Cosmic Case," by Emily Sohn, delivers more advanced information about the sun, moon and stars, including how the earth rotates around the sun and the moon orbits around the earth.
Space Crafts
Break out the arts and crafts supplies for art activities related to the sun, moon and stars. One idea is to have your child make a sun and moon puppet. Paint the back of one paper plate like the sun, and another like the moon. Use googly eyes and markers to draw a face on both. Staple the plates together and glue a long craft stick in between the plates for a handle. You can also have your kids capture stars in a jar using sparkly glow-in-the-dark paint. Dip thin paint brushes into the glow in the dark paint and paint tiny dots all over the inside of the jar. Sit the jar directly under a lamp or other light source until the paint dries. In the evening, take the jar to your child's room and turn off the light to see the cool star-like effect.
Fun Under the Sun
Engage your child and friends in outdoor games related to the sun, moon and stars. Play moon bounce tag, a game in which the kids must bounce with both feet together to chase each other. You could also play a game where one child is the "sun" and stands in the middle of the yard. The kids must run to safety on the other side without getting tagged. Anybody that gets tagged gets stuck where they are as a "star" and must try to reach out and tag others as the game continues, until only one child remains. You could also cover large rocks with silver paint and hide them around your backyard. Tell the kids they are moon explorers on a mission to find rare moon rocks. The team that finds the most rocks wins.
Galactic Field Trip
Take your child to the nearest planetarium to see a show. Most planetariums offer kid-friendly shows that teach children about the solar system using impressive visuals and age-appropriate language. Visit a science center or museum that has detailed exhibits related to the sun, moon and stars, particularly those that offer hands-on exhibits. At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., for example, visitors of all ages can touch a real moon rock, look through telescopes and climb through spaceships that have been to the moon.