Giving young children time and space to explore both the natural and man-made world around them builds on their innate curiosity, knowledge and learning. But practitioners can take this one step further by supporting them to observe objects closely using resources such as magnifying glasses, and providing them with the knowledge that what they are doing is, actually, scientific.
Development Matters (2020) highlights early science and the need to provide children with opportunities to observe, for example:
Dr Julian Grenier, head teacher of Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre, East London, led on the revised guidance and says that when it comes to early science, ‘Sometimes, we emphasise the “nature studies” aspect over all else. But Development Matters tries to provide a balance between early chemistry – mixing things together and observing changes, like cooking; early physics – using magnets, exploring forces through floating and sinking; and early biology – observing plants and living things, growing your own beans.’
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