We’re Scientists, Engineers and Explorers!

Exploring and experimenting is what young children do best. From a very early age, they instinctively test their environments, actions and reactions – learning, discovery by discovery, how the world works.

This reflex and drive to explore is something we not only work to encourage in infants and toddlers, but – just as importantly – to preserve as children begin to mature in Preschool and Pre-K. These formative years are critical to stimulating and appropriately channeling curiosity, building confidence to continue exploring, and developing age-appropriate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) skills that lay a strong foundation for further education.

There are so many creative ways to make experimenting fun (think popsicle stick catapults, snow volcanos, light cube engineering, dancing gummy worms and rainbows in a bag, just to name a few of our favorites).

Our Frazer School also recently brought in a scientist as a special guest for Science Day! Outfitted in authentic lab gear, Mr. Derek, “The Scientist,” showed off what appeared at first to be magic, then explained the scientific elements and reactions behind his “tricks.” Some of the crowd-pleasers included making objects float in mid-air by using magnetic repulsion, creating a tornado in a bottle, and, of course, giving one of our teachers a scare by nearly dumping a cup full of liquid over her head.

While special activities like these are different and certainly memorable, engaging your young scientists, engineers and explorers at home can be as simple as allowing them to help you cook, building with blocks or legos, or venturing into the backyard. Whatever it is you choose to do together, it will be time well spent!