Nurturing Curiosity and Discovery Through Early Science

When people hear the word science, they often picture white lab coats and complicated experiments. For young children, though, science looks very different. It’s found in puddles after the rain, in a stack of blocks that keeps toppling over, and in the endless stream of “how?” and “why?” questions children love to ask.

In the early years, science is less about right answers and more about curiosity. It’s about giving children the chance to explore, investigate, and make sense of the world around them. By encouraging observation, questioning, and hands-on discovery, we help children build strong foundations for learning — not just in science, but across all STEM areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

How Science Comes to Life in Preschool

In our preschool environment, science learning is naturally embedded into daily play and routines. Children are constantly experimenting, testing ideas, and discovering new things through meaningful experiences such as:

• Nature exploration – observing plants, insects, and weather changes outdoors while discussing seasons and living things

• Water investigations – experimenting with floating and sinking, pouring, measuring, and mixing

• Construction and design – creating structures with blocks, loose parts, or recycled materials and seeing what works (and what doesn’t!)

• Cooking experiences – noticing how ingredients change when they are mixed, heated, or cooled

• Hands-on experiments – making bubbles, watching ice melt, or combining colours to explore cause and effect

These playful activities support important skills including problem-solving, predicting outcomes, teamwork, and careful observation — all essential parts of scientific thinking.

Simple Science Experiences for Home

Families can easily extend this learning at home using everyday materials. Early science doesn’t need fancy equipment — just curiosity and time together. Here are a few easy ideas to try:

• Float or Sink? Gather household items and test them in water, encouraging your child to make guesses first

• Colour Experiments – mix food colouring in water to explore how new colours are created

• Frozen Discoveries – freeze small toys in ice and experiment with ways to melt them

• Outdoor Collecting – go on a walk and compare leaves, rocks, or sticks

• Shadow Fun – use a torch to create shadows with hands or toys and see how shapes change

These activities help children learn through play while strengthening their thinking and language skills.

The Importance of Early Science Learning

Early science experiences do far more than teach children about the world — they help build confidence, communication skills, and resilience. Children begin to understand that it’s okay to test ideas, make mistakes, and try again. They start to see themselves as capable learners and curious thinkers.

At Hassocks Day Nursery and Preschool we view science as a journey of wonder. Every question asked and every discovery made supports children in becoming creative, confident learners — ready to explore whatever comes next.