Expand your teenagers mind
As a father of 4 girls (teenagers) I see how different pesonalities can be
In school the difference is so wide that this can be a little challenging. Two of my daughters like science and interesting things, while the other two would only care about making sure animals weren't used in developing makeup.
I always try to get them to broaden their knowledge not just in science but in the trades too. I feel if they can wield a calculator as well as a pipe wrench or hammer they can look after themselves no matter what.
For me I don't really have a scientific mind or the education to back it up like they do, I graduated but that was as far as I went. I do like interesting things though and one of these was a garden sundial. I stumbled upon these when my wife and I were out looking in a garden store for plants. I bought one because I thought it was kind of a cool thing to have, she on the other hand just said if I want to tell the time I'll just look at my watch.
This is what surprised me
After putting it together, setting it up, reading all the directions and then trying to find true north, I noticed that all of my daughters where watching me ( a rare occasion that they were all home at the same time) and laughing. Finally one of my daughters that wants to be a marine biologist came over and said she would figure it out for me. The others in-between chuckles said it was sort of like watching me set up the VCR.
Within about five minutes they were all taking about it and how sundials work. Even the two that only care about the science behind the latest fashions. I tell you it did my heart good to see all of my daughters working together to figure something out. After they got it set up for me, they were looking at it and said how nice it looked and that it really was a cool thing to have in the yard.
Whenever they have friends over and happen to be outside they always make a point in showing them how it works. I have noticed that most of their friends that do look at, start to ask more technical questions on how and why sundials work.
To me this was one of the better garden decorations that I have purchased in many years. Anytime you can get a teenager interested in a science or just how a gadget works is money and time well spent. Now if I could only get them interested in rain gauges and outdoor weather stations, maybe someone would buy me one. If you would like to know more about Armillary and garden sundials for your backyard go here.
