But why is the moon red?

Holden, at 33 months, is really getting the why why why thing down pat. I try to be patient and answer the questions he’s asking, but he (invariably) reaches a point where I don’t know the answer.

Questions from this week:

• Why is the moon red? (asked because his preschool teacher had mentioned the lunar eclipse) Ummm, I don’t know, maybe something’s in front of it like the earth or a star. (Alec said it was the earth’s shadow, oops!)
• Is this your underwear? (while holding up a sports bra) It’s a sports bra, like an undershirt, kind of. (Alec said I didn’t answer the question; he’s just looking for a yes or no)
• Is that an iPod, and a phone, and a computer? (to my iPhone) No, it’s a camera, and an iPod, and a phone. (Alec says that because we check email on it, he thinks it’s a computer too. Fair enough)
• Why don’t you have a penis? ummmmm (Alec, where are you when I’m getting these questions?!)

Despite my fumbling and occasional loss for words, we want to encourage his natural curiosity and tried on two different occasions this week to get extra science-y and go for the real hands-on experience rather than just talking.

The adventure of the lunar eclipse
So Wednesday night, we made a big deal out of putting Baby Milo to bed, brushing teeth, getting into jammies, and bundling up in a blanket to go out in front of the house and look for the lunar eclipse. I guess the next one isn’t going to happen for another almost three years. Only Big Boys can go out like this in the cold with Mommy and Daddy and look for the red moon. We saw it peeking out of the clouds, sort of pinkish, and then went to bed?

Too young for a science museum?
My husband, Alec, and I were both engineers in college. We’re both fairly geeky compared to most parents and hope to raise kids with a healthy love of math and science. In my opinion, “healthy” means that Holden is too young for video games and chemistry sets, but he’s a great age to work the cd player and help in the kitchen.

On Monday, we joined the nearby Lawrence Hall of Science because we think we’ll get a ton of learning disguised as fun over the next twelve months. And just because my first visit with two boys ended with a major pee-through within twenty minutes of arrival, I don’t think every visit will end that way. And if it does, a membership really softens the blow of a visit-cut-short with the knowledge that you can come again soon.

More info and links:
Nasa Lunar Eclipse Page
Cool Photos of eclipse from Wired
What other Parent Bloggers think of Science and Kids
Zula Intergalactic Inquirer PBS science show for kids