Learning About Science for Baby/Toddler

Science is knowledge that comes from observation, study and experimentation.  We are always encouraging children to study and experiment with real objects to discover answers, and inspire their curiosity for future learning.

Even babies are budding scientists.  They learn by using their five senses.  You can provide materials of different textures, sounds and colors so babies can discover differences in objects.  Round balls, soft blankets, prickly plastic squish toys, large plastic beads, jingle toys or bells, rattles, brights scarves, wooden spoons or toy cars are a few examples.  Babies put objects into their mouths.  This is one of the ways babies learns.  Of course, another reason to thoroughly clean and sanitize all baby toys daily.

As they get older, babies and toddlers love to stack and dump things to see what happens.  Dropping an item from the high chair gives a toddler a great thrill.  To a toddler, dropping objects is a lesson in the forces of gravity, sounds and cause and effect.  It is a good idea to provide toddlers opportunities to stack and dump using buckets, containers, measuring cups and spoons.

Encouraging children to discover the properties of water and sand.  These activities help them learn about sinking and floating, temperature, and how water changes things.  Us lots of words to describe what is happening. (“That sponge is soaking wet,” or “The cold water will feel good on your bump.”)

Playing outdoors provides experiences in a natural environment.  During outdoor play they can see insects, trees, flowers, rain, animals, and soil.  These experiences enhance their interest in and knowledge of the natural world.

Look for future blogs on more science activities.

Happy Friday – Fruits and Veggies

So what is the best way to get children to try a new fruit or vegetable? If a child grows them, they are more likely to eat them. Grow it, try it, you might just like it. Getting them involved in a food activity or taste test is a great start. Setting an example is another technique for introducing new foods. Have you ever told a child “eat that, it’s good for you” while knowing you would never eat it? It is often hard for them to try an item they may be familiar with. Reading a book about a fruit or vegetable and then integrating that item into all learning centers is also a great way to peak children’s interest. Look for upcoming blogs with more suggestions on this.

Fruits and vegetables can be served in so many ways. If a child does not like them one way, then try another. They may prefer raw over cooked, with or without condiments, mixed with other food items or by themselves. I remember one class where the children were introduced to carrots. The teacher read The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss. As she read she showed a pack of carrot seeds, bunch of carrots with the tops (which many had never seen) and baby carrots. They were offered carrots with ranch dressing and peanut butter. Most children were familiar with peanut butter and did not hesitate the taste test. Once they tried them with peanut butter they were more willing to try them with the ranch dressing. It was great to see the enthusiasm as they tried a new food.

The Carrot Seed Activities

Fruits and veggies make a great snack, but also can be an essential part of any meal. Encourage parents to keep some fresh items cut and in the frig for easy access.

In a new study released in the March/April 2013 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, researches found that growing and then cooking the foods that kids grew increased their willingness to try new foods.