From “Amazing Things to See From (Possibly) Far Away” on Skepdad’s “100 Things to Do Before You’re a Teenager” List.

While I’m neither an advocate for structured play nor flash card learning, I do think there is value in everyone and anyone setting specific life goals. And just like I think every adult should have a list of things to do before they die — a bucket list, some might call it — so too every child should have a parental-supported list of things to do before they leave the age of innocence and become a teenager. This is just one from my list.

The Thing to Do…

I’m writing this post on the fortieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, so needless to say “space” has been in the news a lot recently. And as I kick off this new series of posts about “things to do” before kids become teenagers, I thought it timely to start right in the middle of my list with something related to that particular anniversary. Why? Because, oddly enough, forty years after our species first stepped foot on that chunk of rock orbiting our home planet the idea of space and space travel seems to have become almost commonplace. I don’t dare suggest that we take it for granted, but rarely a day goes by when we are not somehow — mundanely — connected with the benefits of that work: satellites relaying signals and images, a global network for communications, or global location tools.

Space travel is one of the milestones of human science, engineering, and progress, and I think every kid should get at least a quick glimpse of that before they become a teenager.

Materials and Methods…

Kids and parents should find something built by humans that has been in space, or — even better — will be going into space. This might mean some travel. It might mean some planning, or paying admission to somewhere. But find something and have a look. Then ask questions. And if you need more information about space, space travel, astronomy, and everything in between, there is load of it out there. For example: http://www.kidsites.com/sites-edu/space.htm

(Parents want to know) The Reason to Do It…

This is where I put on my science educator hat and talk about the general goodness of hands-on, in-your-face, practical, in the flesh, learning experiences related to a vast field of multi-disciplinary study. Do you really need evidence that every kid should take a day out of their lives to bask in the inspirational wonder and curiosity of modern human achievements? Then move along.

The Results…

Catching a glimpse of an old rocket, space suit, shuttle, satellite, or (if you’re in my country) Canada’s remote manipulator arm is not going to — blink — turn a kid into a scientist. But then that’s not the point. If you’re raising kids RIGHT NOW there is one simple fact you already know: those kids will never know a time before humanity reached out to the stars. Big deal, right? Actually… I’d argue it is. And that argument wouldn’t be framed in reasons of nostalgia, historical perspective, or all that wishy-washy ‘hooray for us’ inspirational talk (though all valid in their own way.) I’d argue it is a big deal because while my generation didn’t exactly turn our backs on space, we did refocus much of our gaze on the unlimited realms information made possible by the technology of the so-called space age. Yes, the Internet is yet another awesome human achievement. But (even at the risk of creating a false dichotomy here) I do sometimes wonder what will inspire more kids to build the NEXT great legacy, Facebook or footsteps on the moon, MySpace or OUR space.

That, and watching a rocket launch would be an amazing family vacation. Just read about that on Bad Astronomy.