Sparking a Love of Science in the Early Years

When we think of science, we often imagine laboratories, test tubes, or complex experiments. But for young children, science is simply about exploration, curiosity, and discovery. In the early years, science is everywhere — from watching rain trickle down a window, to building a tower of blocks, to asking the all-important “why?”

Science in preschool isn’t about memorising facts, but about nurturing children’s natural curiosity. By encouraging them to ask questions, notice changes, and explore how things work, we’re laying the foundations for a lifelong love of learning — not only in science, but across all STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths).

Science in the Early Years Setting

In our preschool, we weave science and STEM learning into everyday play. Some of the activities children enjoy include:

• Exploring nature – looking closely at leaves, bugs, and flowers in the garden, and talking about the seasons.

• Water play investigations – discovering which objects float and sink, experimenting with pouring, measuring, and mixing.

• Building and engineering – using blocks, recycled materials, or loose parts to design and test structures.

• Cooking and baking – noticing changes when ingredients are mixed, heated, or cooled.

• Simple experiments – such as making bubbles, observing ice melting, or mixing colours to see what happens.

Through these playful experiences, children develop skills like observation, prediction, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Science Activities to Try at Home

Parents can easily support early science learning with simple, everyday activities at home. Here are a few ideas:

• Sink or Float Game: Collect a few objects (a spoon, a cork, a toy car, etc.) and test which float in a bowl of water. Ask your child to guess before trying each one.

• Colour Mixing: Use food colouring in clear cups of water to see how new colours are made when mixed.

• Ice Play: Freeze small toys in ice cubes and let your child explore how to melt them (warm water, salt, patience!).

• Nature Walks: Collect leaves, stones, or sticks and talk about similarities and differences.

• Shadow Play: Use a torch in a dark room to make shadow shapes with hands or toys.

These activities are simple, fun, and don’t require special equipment — just a bit of curiosity and time together.

Why It Matters

By engaging in early science activities, children are not only learning about the world around them, but also developing critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. They begin to see themselves as explorers and thinkers — skills that will serve them well throughout school and beyond.

At The Nest, we believe science is all about wonder. Every question, every “what if?”, and every new discovery is a step towards building confident, creative learners.