How To Teach Kids about Heartbeats in 5 Minutes (at Home)

Their first heartbeat moment opens the door to exploring the sounds around them. Stethoscopes make the unseen heard—even in pets. For kids, that discovery builds confidence, ignites curiosity, and sparks imaginative play. Kids enjoy stepping into the role of “doctor” because, like teachers and parents, doctors are trusted, visible figures in their world who leave a strong, positive impression. Give your child that “wow—that’s my heart!” moment while sneaking in real STEM learning.

What you need (1 minute)

• Heartbeats Electronic Stethoscope (ages 4+)
• A timer (phone) and paper/pencil
• Optional: a few stairs/jumping jacks for light activity
  Safety: Designed for play/education; not a medical device. Don’t use for prenatal monitoring.

The 5-Minute Plan

Minute 1 — Find the Beat

1. Plug in the headphones to the heart-shaped Heartbeats stethoscope.

2. Put on the volume-limited (85 dB) headphones (standard 3.5 mm jack).

3. Place the sensor flat on the left chest, just below the collarbone.

4. Press the power button to start listening—LEDs will pulse with the sound they detect.

5. Say: “Hear that thump-thump? That’s your heart pumping blood!”
   

Minute 2 — Count & Calculate (Math)

1. Start a 15-second timer.
2. Count the beats out loud together.
3. Multiply by 4 to get BPM (beats per minute).
• Example: 22 beats in 15s → 88 BPM.
4. Write it down: “Resting: 88 BPM.”

 

Minute 3 — Move & Measure (Science)

1. Do 30 seconds of light movement (marching, jumping jacks).
2. Measure again for 15 seconds and calculate BPM.
3. Ask: “What changed? Why did it go up?”
• Quick explanation: Muscles need more oxygen, so the heart pumps faster.

 

Minute 4 — Breathe & Compare (Tech + Self-Regulation)

1. Try slow belly breathing together (in 4 counts, out 4 counts) for 45–60 seconds.
2. Measure again.
3. Ask: “Did your BPM drop? How did breathing help?”
• Tie-in: Calm breathing helps your body and brain.

 

Minute 5 — Wrap & Reflect (Engineering mindset)

• What helped us measure? A sensor picked up sound → amplifier → LEDs pulse to the beat.
• Design question: “If you could improve this tool for kids, what would you add?” (clip, stand, carry case?)
• High-five + recap: “We measured, compared, and explained—that’s STEM!”

 

Extend the learning

• Materials test: Measure through T-shirt vs. sweatshirt. Which muffles sound more? (absorption)
• Positions: Lying down vs. standing—does BPM change? Why? (gravity/circulation)
• Sibling turns: Listener/Timer/Recorder roles build teamwork and data skills.
• Sanitize: Wipe the smooth surfaces between turns.

 

In five minutes, Heartbeats turns curiosity into STEM—kids hear and see their heartbeat, calculate BPM, test cause-and-effect, and explain what changed. These guided activities encourage hands-on learning, hypothesis testing, and data observation—core STEM skills.

 

Role-Play Meets Real Science

Though built for imaginative play—playing “doctor”—the device is more than a prop. It’s a real, functioning stethoscope designed for educational use, supporting cross-curricular learning that blends role-play with scientific exploration.