One of the coolest things you can add to your child’s learning experience, especially when reading, is a magnifying glass! Discovering all the fun and interesting ways we can use a magnifying glass will capture your child’s attention and can lead to fun and engaging conversations with your early learner. It’s such a great way for little ones to discover the small details of the world around them!
Here are some ideas for how to incorporate a magnifying glass into everyday interactions:
Give a Boost to Story Time
Read a book about bugs with your little one! As you read, pause on each page and encourage your child to use the magnifying glass to get a better view. As they look through the lens, make sure to ask a lot of questions. Can they spot differences in the bugs on each page? Can they describe the little details of each insect? This gets your child involved in the story, invested in their learning, and even more excited to participate in storytime!
Maximize Nature Walks
Step outside for a walk together and put a magnifying glass in your child’s hand to see if they can discover something they have never seen before. There are so many interesting things to see when you can magnify your view. Get a closer look at that ladybug eating a leaf or an ant working really hard to build a mound! Paying attention to the small details found in nature will teach your child to appreciate the world around them on a larger scale. Children love being a part of their own learning. Empowering them to do so provides the opportunity to seek new questions and the desire to find the answers.
More Ways to Magnify Learning
- The magnifying glass is not just for bugs! Use it to magnify words and letters in a book or take a closer look at the illustrations. What a way to be completely immersed in the story!
- Always keep a magnifying glass handy, especially when presenting new learning tools and objects so your child can take a closer look.
- After your child finishes a new piece of fridge-worthy art, use a magnifying glass to discover the details of the masterpiece they have just created. Make sure to ask a lot of questions about their work.
Give a Fun Lesson on How to Use It
Most children will put the magnifying glass right up to their eyes like a pair of glasses – and that’s ok! However, take a little time to teach your child that they will see more clearly if they hold it closer to the object. This way, they can fully appreciate the power of their new magnifying glass!
Pay Attention to the Quality
You don’t have to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a set of professional magnifying glasses, but you will want to pay attention to the quality of the product. There are a lot of cute and inexpensive ones to choose from, but the magnification may not be enough to keep your child interested. Search for child-safe magnifying glasses, and then read reviews about what other parents and educators are saying about a particular one and you’ll be good to go!