I think all parents want their children to follow in their footsteps to some extent.  It's a lot of fun to share similar interests with your child, and for me, one of those interests I like to share with Riley is my love for Science.  As a former teacher with a Genetics degree, I've been fascinated by the broad subject of Science for as long as I can remember.  Seeing Riley's emerging love and enthusiasm for Science definitely warms my heart and gives me yet another great way to bond with my daughter.

As any good scientist knows, experiments in the lab are a vital part of discovery and understanding, and these experiments always require accurate and precise measurements.  That's why I was thrilled to see Learning Resources's newest toy, the Primary Science Mix & Measure Set.  I had the chance to review this amazing scientific set with Riley.  Keep reading to learn more!

The recipe for measurement success is here!  The Primary Science Mix & Measure Set builds children's understanding of basic measurement equivalencies as they follow simple scientific "recipes".  Mix up some fun with Science and get ready for an adventure in measurement!  This set helps to teach and encourage the following skills:

• Use real, child-friendly measuring tools to explore
• Perform activities and follow recipes that are both engaging and educational
• Learn basic measurement vocabulary
• Use the five senses to explore and observe
• Begin to understand equivalency as it relates to measurement

The following kid-friendly tools are included in the Primary Science Mix & Measure Set:

• Tablespoon (15 mL)
• Teaspoon (5 mL)
• 1/2 Teaspoon (2.5 mL)
• 1/4 Cup (Qty. 2) (60 mL)
• 1/2 Cup (120 mL)
• 1 Cup (240 mL)
• Tall 2-Cup (480 mL)
• Short 2-Cup (480 mL)
• 4 Cup Bowl with Lid (960 mL)
• Scale
• 10 Double-Sided Activity Cards

Now Riley is still a tad young to understand some of the more complicated themes associated with this set, such as measurement equivalency and fractions.  The Primary Science Mix & Measure Set is geared for grades PreK and up, though I would wholeheartedly recommend it for younger children.  There are no sharp edges and all components are extremely large and durable...just perfect for little hands.

The first day I gave Riley the Mix & Measure Set to play with, I allowed her to simply "free play" with it.  Who knew filling the pieces of this set with one pitcher of water could be so much fun?  Riley delighted in pouring this water back and forth, between big cups and smaller ones, carefully using the measuring spoons and cups and then doing the whole thing over and over again.

I delighted in watching her focus so intently as she practiced pouring water from and into different size spoons and containers.  This was motor skill development at its finest.  I also briefly introduced to her what fractions look like and that they will always be smaller than any container with a whole number on it.  This she seemed to understand and was using the word "fraction" quite regularly by the end of the day.

The next day, it was time to introduce some real Science to Riley and to start following some of the wonderful "experiments" included on the 10 double-sided activity cards.  For this, we needed to make sure that we had adequate eye protection in "the lab" and so I gave her the Primary Science Safety Glasses.  She loved them!

These safety glasses have adjustable arms so that they can fit over a child's eyeglasses or even adjust to fit an adult face.  I wore them several times throughout the day and liked how versatile they were.  Riley would push the glasses' arms all the way in for "Riley-sized" and then pull them all the way out for "Mommy-sized".  I could tell that she felt like a bonafide scientist while wearing these safety glasses and always made sure that she wasn't "doing any Science" without them.

In my opinion, the activity cards were just as good as the measuring tools themselves, for they were large laminated cards with easy to follow "experiments" on them.  Now you and your child can have a blast together creating and exploring mystery goo, puffy paint, slime and more!

Riley and I practiced measuring and pouring solid ingredients like rice and beans together using the Primary Science Mix & Measure tools as well as made Mystery Goo.  This is a classic experiment that I used to do with my own students when I was a teacher.  It's a lot of fun and also contains a ton of teachable moments.

If you have a budding scientist on your hands or would like to inspire one over these long summer months, then by all means, be sure to grab the Primary Science Mix & Measure Set with Primary Science Safety Glasses from Learning Resources.  Your children will have so much fun interacting with these pieces that they won't even realize how much they're actually learning!