Speaker
Description
Children are natural questioners, and their curiosity about the world around them often leaves adults searching for answers. Science, particularly astronomy, is part of our daily life. Children’s questions are inseparable from a starry night sky, a moon that always follows us, and a big yellow sun in the day. As a child's primary educators and first points of reference, parents are expected to answer these questions anytime and anywhere. This reality calls on parents to prepare themselves to be learning buddies for their children.
In Indonesia, online astronomy programs are widely available, but almost exclusively designed for children. Programs intended for adult learners, particularly parents, remain rare or virtually nonexistent. While parents often accompany their children in these classes, the content is tailored for children and does not deepen the parent's own understanding of astronomy. Recognizing this gap and acknowledging that parents are a child's first learning buddy, we developed Astronomy for Parents, an online astronomy program designed specifically for mothers and fathers. Becoming a parent does not mean stopping learning; if anything, it demands more of it, as children grow and their questions only multiply.
The program held its first session in June 2026 on the topic of Stars and Planets, chosen as the most familiar and observable topic for parents with no prior astronomy background. Each session follows four segments: an opening hook question, concept exploration, a simple hands-on activity, and a Q&A discussion. Eight participants attended the pilot session. All participants rated the content as easy to understand, and seven of the eight indicated a desire to return for future sessions. These early findings suggest that an adult-centered approach to astronomy outreach for parents can be effective in terms of engagement and home-based learning. We look forward to sharing this work to expand astronomy outreach in Indonesia through the langitselatan programme.
