Total solar eclipse 2024: How to get kids excited for rare celestial event?

You and your child can click around to different cities on the interactive map and see what time the eclipse will occur and how long it will last

The total solar eclipse is right around the corner and people are excited to witness the rare celestial event.

However, unlike the adults, many children may not be so hyped up for the event and if your child is one of them, it's not something to be sad about because you can fix it.

So here's what you can do if your child isn't as excited about the total solar eclipse on April 8 as you are.

Explain it to them in simple terms

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) has an educational website about space and Earth science for kids called Nasa Space Place.

The website features a two-minute animated video explaining the concept of a solar eclipse to children, covering its nature, events, and anticipated sightings.

Tell them they'll be adults when the next one occurs

The next total solar eclipse in North America will not be visible until 2044, which brings about a lot of excitement.

Use it to get your children excited about witnessing the rare celestial event. Remind them that they'll be adults the next time it occurs.

Get creative

Create an interactive model to enhance your explanation of a solar eclipse, using two balls and a flashlight.

To create a vivid representation, use one big ball to represent Earth and one smaller ball to represent the moon. 

Use the flashlight to represent the sun and shine it onto the bigger ball. Then, have your child slowly move the smaller ball between the beach ball and the flashlight to demonstrate what happens during a solar eclipse.

Use Nasa's interactive map to show the path

Nasa offers an interactive map for online viewing of cities in the path of totality allowing children to get a visual representation of the event.

You and your child can click around to different cities on the interactive map and see what time the eclipse will occur and how long it will last.

Make pinhole viewers

Pinhole viewers are a safe and fun way to observe the solar eclipse, as they allow you to view the eclipse through a projection with your back facing the sun.

Making pinhole viewers can be a fun activity for kids to try.