Disclaimer: my boys are young (7, 5, 3 - close to birthdays, but still) Up till now, the only science we've been doing are nature studies (including LOTS of living books) and noodling about with an electronics kit. All pretty concrete. Today we did our first chemistry experiment. And...well, I don't think they really learned anything. The were pretty pumped for it. And they paid attention, and did their best to follow directions (way better than normal). And they LOVED it. Only, I am quite certain they have no idea that anything happened chemically. And I really couldn't explain it because (even though I looked it up and read and read and read until I finally got the point myself...I think...) they were too busy gleefully cackling about the chemical change they saw took place. Soooo....is this just too young? Not to young to have a blast, but too young to bother trying to talk about ideas in chemistry? I was kind of surprised - we've talked about how fire is a chemical reaction, and how leavening works in baking, and that yeast is alive...(whoops, was that biology...? or botany...?) signed, Not a Scientist...
I don't think it's too early. They know something happend, a reaction, and have that knowledge tucked away in their memory. Later on when they learn about chemical reactions again, they can make another connection to that first memory. That being said... I know how you feel. We made "gloop" with cornstarch and water (not really a chemical reaction, but an odd acting substance) and I tried to explain to him why it can seem solid with force, but liquid when allowed to move slowly. I don't know if he got it. But, hey, it was still cool and fun!
Even if they can't explain the exact science behind it, they learned that chemistry is fun!! That's HUGE!!! And it will keep them interested even when science gets a little boring (cuz it does occasionally), because another experiment is just around the corner. Don't give up! And keep talking to them about what they are seeing. It may not look like they're listening, but you'll be astonished some day when they pull some fact that you told them out of "thin air."
I'm betting they learned a lot more than what you realized. When Phillip was little (age 3), he listened in to the girls learning about photsynthesis. And then later, when my dad added "plant food" to the flowers we planted, he told him, "You don't understand, Grandpa! Plants make their own food from the sun!" And I thought he was WAY too young!!!
