Explaining abstract concepts to small children

[LadyBiscuit]

Is it possible or do they think so literally that there is no point? I was trying to explain to my DS (3) yesterday that there was nothing inside his bouncy ball. He kept protesting that there was so in the end I told him there was only bounce in there and nothing he could touch. Of course, 20 minutes later, he's bitten a big hole in the side of it in an attempt 'to get the bounce out'.

Is there a better way to explain things? Should I have said that the ball was made of rubber and that rubber bounces? Just idly wondering really ...

Sounds like he's the sort of little boy who would have bitten a hole in it anyway...... DH was this sort of little boy - MIL says their house was full of things DH had taken apart to see how they worked then couldn't get them back together again

there isn't nothing in it - it will be full of air - so I would have explained that inside it was like all the air around him - he can't see it (but he can feel it when the wind blows). I would also have explained the bounce comes from the rubber the ball is made out of (and depending on interest gone round and looked at other things, what they are made of, and if they bounce).

He sounds like a budding scientist

Good idea re finding other things that bounce. I am hoping he isn't a budding scientist - I was useless as science at school. I think that's why I struggle with it!

throckenholt - DH is a scientist

He does like taking things apart. Dammit. And I've bought so much drawing and painting equipment too

Budding scientist is good. My parents were hopeless at anything practical. Their youngest had a talent. By age 6 he was fixing alarm clocks and taking the hoover apart and mending it. By the time he got to his teens, he was installing the school's computer system and instructing the staff in its use, probably the only person in town who understood computers. He is a brilliant person to have around.

scientist is good (says she who is a scientist and is married to a scientist, and fully expects at least some of her kids to be scientists ).

Just try not to fob him off with things that aren't true - "I don't know but maybe we can find out" is a good answer - and google is probably a good start to find out.

We went to the Science Museum today and he absolutely loved it. We've had membership of London Zoo for a year and he's never had any interest in the animals but he stared at the engines and flywheels and pistons for ages. I think I've found out what floats his boat. And this thread helped. Thanks scientists

LOL Sounds like my oldest. ANd if I EVER dont know anything he consoles me with "dont worry Mummy, we can google it" He is also an IT nerd at age 4!!!