Science (12 - 33 months)
Toddlers are active learners. Walking, running, climbing, using tools, and taking things apart and putting them together are not simply skills for them to master—they are strategies for finding things out!
Everything is of interest to toddlers, and much of what toddlers find fascinating and want to learn more about is science: How does a dump truck work? Why did that ball roll faster than the other one? What’s inside a peapod? What happens next? Why?
Toddlers spend a lot of time exploring their world and acting like scientists.
- They sort objects.
- They group like things together.
- They test out strategies with variations.
- They take things apart and try to put them back together.
- They explore how things move and work.
- They ask questions and look for answers.
Young toddlers ask questions with their actions. They might point to an object to ask its name, or drop something from a height to see what will happen. Older toddlers begin to use language when asking questions. When you share your own curiosity by wondering and reasoning aloud, you help toddlers learn to ask questions and find ways to figure things out.
Toddlers sometimes do things out of curiosity without realizing that they could be hurtful or dangerous. As you redirect toddlers away from danger or trouble, ask yourself, What might they be trying to find out? Take the time to explain, and show children a safe, alternative way to extend their interest and continue their exploration further.