Science Exploration at Daycare 2026

Young children are natural scientists—curious, experimental, and eager to understand their world. Quality childcare programs nurture this innate scientific curiosity through exploration and discovery.

Science exploration

Science in Early Childhood

Natural Scientists

Children already:

Ask endless questions
Experiment constantly
Observe carefully
Make predictions
Test theories

Early Science Is

Not worksheets but:

Hands-on exploration
Discovery and experimentation
Observing and questioning
Predicting and testing
Natural curiosity

Key Science Concepts

Physical Science

Exploring:

How things move
Objects and materials
Building and construction
Cause and effect
Forces and motion

Life Science

Learning about:

Living things
Plants and animals
Growth and change
Bodies and senses
Habitats and needs

Earth Science

Discovering:

Weather patterns
Seasons and changes
Water and its forms
Rocks and soil
Sky and nature

Scientific Thinking

Process Skills

Children develop:

Observation
Prediction
Experimentation
Comparison
Drawing conclusions

Asking Questions

Science begins with:

"What if...?"
"Why does...?"
"How come...?"
"What happens when...?"

Investigation

Children learn to:

Try things out
See what happens
Change variables
Test again
Notice patterns

Activities That Build Science Skills

Sensory Exploration

Examples:

Water play experiments
Sensory bins with materials
Mixing and combining
Texture exploration
Temperature experiences

Nature Investigation

Activities:

Observing insects
Collecting leaves
Watching weather
Planting seeds
Nature walks

Building and Engineering

Opportunities:

Block construction
Ramps and balls
Building challenges
Problem-solving
Testing designs

Simple Experiments

Age-appropriate:

Mixing colors
Sinking and floating
Magnets
Shadow play
Simple chemistry (baking soda/vinegar)

Quality Science Programming

What to Look For

Good programs:

Discovery/science area
Natural materials
Exploration time
Teacher facilitation
Questions welcomed

Environment

Should include:

Science center or area
Magnifying glasses
Natural collections
Books about science
Materials for experimenting

Teacher Role

Adults should:

Ask open questions
Wonder aloud
Extend investigations
Provide materials
Document learning

STEM in Early Childhood

What STEM Is

Integrated approach:

Science
Technology
Engineering
Mathematics
Connected learning

Age-Appropriate STEM

Not advanced concepts but:

Hands-on exploration
Problem-solving
Building and creating
Asking questions
Play-based discovery

Activities

STEM includes:

Building with blocks
Exploring with water
Simple machines
Coding concepts (unplugged)
Design challenges

Questions to Ask Programs

About Science

Ask:

How do you incorporate science?
What science activities do you offer?
Is there a discovery area?
How do you support curiosity?
What about nature exploration?

About Approach

Understand:

Play-based or academic?
Teacher role in science?
Materials available?
Outdoor exploration?
Connection to real world?

By Age

Infants

Science through:

Sensory exploration
Cause and effect
Object manipulation
Movement discovery
Observing world

Toddlers

Exploring:

Simple experiments
Water and sand
Nature discovery
Cause and effect
"What happens if...?"

Preschoolers

Expanding to:

More complex experiments
Scientific vocabulary
Longer investigations
Documentation
Deeper questioning

Supporting at Home

Encouraging Curiosity

At home:

Answer questions
Explore together
Provide materials
Wonder aloud
Value mistakes

Simple Activities

Try:

Kitchen science
Nature walks
Collections
Observation games
Simple experiments

Being a Partner

With daycare:

Ask about science activities
Extend at home
Share discoveries
Value science learning
Connect experiences

Key Takeaways

Young children are scientists:

Natural curiosity
Love experimenting
Learn through doing
Ask questions
Need opportunities

Quality programs:

Value exploration
Provide materials
Ask questions
Support inquiry
Connect to nature

Science is:

Hands-on
Play-based
Question-driven
Experimental
Connected to world