Do you think it is too early to teach science to a one year old? Are toddlers too young to understand? It may be a good idea to expose children of all ages to learning whenever possible. Make learning a normal part of each day and make it fun for your children at an early age. Then you help them to become good students who enjoy learning and excel. You set the stage for a lifetime of learning.
What kind of science do you teach to a toddler? My daughter, who is 22 months old and I, had many opportunities this week and we took advantage of them. While walking around our driveway we noticed a butterfly landing on several dandelions. I pointed out the butterfly and my daughter squatted down to watch it. I squatted beside her and talked about the butterfly pollinating the flowers and eating the nectar.
Do I think that she understood? Not all of my words, but she seemed to listen and watched the butterfly for several minutes. A few days later, we stopped at the nursery to purchase some plants including marigolds, tomatoes, watermelon, and muskmelon. We talked about all the different flowers being called flowers. We talked about their colors and we smelled them. Then we saw a bumblebee landing on flowers. I pointed out the bumblebee and repeated the lesson with the butterfly. Now, she had heard these words twice in one week.
My daughter also helps feed the horses, cows, dogs, and lizards each day. Therefore, she knows what the animals are and what they eat. She also likes to say the sounds that animals make when she sees them. If I happen to feed them while she is napping, she asks the rest of the day, so I have learned to wait for her.
We even baked cookies together. Granted, she had flower on both cheeks and all over her clothes, but she had fun and learned where cookies come from. Today, we transplanted the flowers and tomatoes we purchased yesterday. She helped dig the holes, put the plants in, and fill in the dirt.
We have a small patch of everbearing strawberries. When the first strawberries arrived, I picked one and gave it to her. I was pulling some weeds the other day when she disappeared. I went looking for her and found her picking strawberries and eating them. It helps that she absolutely loves fruits. We have yet to find one that she doesn’t like.
Are these hardcore science lessons? No, but they are all introductions to science and learning. They are the kinds of things they teach children in kindergarten and first grade science. Children’s brains grow more than any other time in their lives between birth and three. The more we get them to think and learn during this time can only benefit them.
Photo Credit: 2008 Julia Fuller.
by Julia Fuller
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