Science Readiness for Preschoolers

Young children are scientists at heart. Kids experiment to make sense of their world. Scientific learning begins at birth, with cause and effect and builds from there. Science readiness is easy to implement with young children.

Encourage curiosity and exploration in your preschooler. Scientific learning happens indoors and outdoors. Use the following tips to guide your child into scientific discovery.

Tips and Tools for Young Scientists

• Provide tools for kids to use. Binoculars, tweezers, a magnifying glass, a notebook to record observations, colored pencils, and a ruler to get your child started in scientific exploration. Continue to add tools to the science toolbox.
• Bath time is a great time for sink or float experiments.
• Fingerpainting with primary colors leads children into creating secondary colors. Mix primary colors (red, yellow, blue) to make secondary colors (purple, orange, green).
• Building block towers with wide and narrow bases leads to simple physics lessons.
• The backyard or a neighborhood park is a great nature learning venue. Look for animal tracks, migrating birds, tree buds/leaves/bark, or insects.
• Ask open-ended questions to promote thinking skills. Listen and discuss the topic with your child.
• When experimenting, ask your child to predict what will happen, then test and observe the outcome together. This is a simplified way to introduce scientific method.
• Thoughtfully answer the myriad of “Why?” questions you will inevitably be asked.
• Use scientific terms to expand your child’s vocabulary.
• Organize your children’s books into categories including a science section with books about animals, plants, weather, space, and other science related topics.
• Research science topics of interest together. Learning is a lifetime activity.
• Read Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life by Richard Louv, recommended by the National Science Teachers Association
• Explore, discover, and learn together as a family.

Great are the works of the Lord;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
Psalm 112:2

Related Posts
Foster Scientific Discovery in Kids
GET GROWING! A Science Experiment for Kids

© 2023 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.

If this post is encouraging, please take a moment to subscribe to the Faith First Parent e-newsletter or share the post with a friend.

Photo courtesy of Janko Ferlič on Unsplash.