Preschool Science

At its basic level, science is the study of the world. What could be more important during the preschool years? And yet, what comes more naturally to preschoolers who are already so inquisitive about the world around them? Make the most of your child’s preschool years by engaging that inquisitiveness and applying it to the study of science. By doing this, you encourage a life long interest in the world around your child which will contribute to all levels of learning. And, if your child is interested in science, your child will be more interested in life in general!

Here are just a few ideas for including science in your preschooler’s daily life:

Combine art and science. There are lots of great art projects that have a scientific side to them and vice versa. This can be a great way to get your child interacting with the science subject.
Do preschool science experiments in your home.
Get science books from the library. Books about dinosaurs and books about the earth are great for getting your child interested in science.

Encourage her to ask questions. And then encourage her to try and find answers. In other words, when she asks why leaves fall off of the trees, encourage her to go outside and pick up some leaves and discuss all of the possibilities with her. Anything hands-on in the world is good for science.
Find computer software programs that include science for preschoolers.
Head to the museum. There are interactive children’s museums in most cities where you can get hands-on science that will engage your preschooler’s mind and excite her about science.
Use a preschool curriculum that includes science as a major subject of study. Worksheets, activities and projects all based on science will be a part of your child’s formal education all the way through college so get started early on making it enjoyable.
Use the changes in your preschooler’s body as a starting point for science discussions. The human body is one of the science things that your child will always have at her fingertips. And since she’s growing so fast, there will be changes that you can point out and discuss with her to help her see how science will always be a part of her life.
Watch educational science videos geared towards preschoolers during downtime to help your child associate science with a fun part of the day.

Science is a terrifically important part of your preschooler’s education. It’s the study of all of the things happening in and around her. By making it fun and engaging, you can encourage your child to always be interested in it. And this is important not only because it’s going to make life itself more exciting for her but also because it will give her an edge up in school. This is particularly true for female children who, unfortunately, still aren’t encouraged as much as boys are to explore science and science-based careers. Make use of your preschooler’s natural interest in the world around her to make science a lifelong experience for her.

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