Exploring Science & Nature

Exploring science and nature can be so much fun for preschool children and comes with so many benefits for toddlers and preschoolers.
 

Benefits of exploring science & nature

 

1. Helps preschool kids to make sense of the world

When preschool kids are engaged in learning about science and nature, they are also learning strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning and develop working theories for making sense of the natural, social, physical and material worlds around them.
 

2. Extends toddler and preschoolers thinking

Science and nature can help preschool children to discover how nature works, learn the correct names for animals and plants, care for the well-being of others and the environment, and to learn to question and investigate.

3. Promotes observation & explanation

You can support toddlers and preschoolers in their exploration by creating an environment that promotes observation, exploration and explanation, asking open-ended questions such as 'What do you think might happen?' or 'What do you see happening?'.

Encourage preschool kids to touch, taste, listen, see and smell the items, and get them to come up with their own explanations.

At home, you can provide resources for toddlers and preschoolers to touch, feel and smell by displaying a range of items on a low table, such as non-poisonous herbs and vegetables, stones and feathers.

You can enhance this experience by adding a magnifying glass, magnets and books on science and the natural world. You might also go on a nature treasure hunt to gather additional items for your science table.

 

Science & nature activities

Encourage your children to have fun learning about science and nature using some of these activities which are easy to do at home:
 

• preparing and cooking food

 

• caring for plants

 

• playing with water and ice

 

• recycling

 

• or even taking apart old equipment to see how things work inside.

 

More Hot Topics for you to enjoy

• Using natural resources for learning
• What is heuristic play
• The benefits of adventure play

Source: This article was written by Nurtured At Home – providing high quality learning environments in a safe and nurturing home.
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