Maker Play with Nature-

Exploring And Enjoying Nature

Stepping outside opens the door to limitless creativity. Kids can create and enjoy art, music, treasure hunts, and more. Encouraging your child to create will help them connect with nature in new and exciting ways.

"Children are naturally curious and seek out opportunities to make sense of their world. When children are left to their own devices, they experiment and with their surroundings, take risks, make mistakes, and then learn from their mistakes." The author also provides practical ideas for spending time outside starting with babies! I love the concept that the outdoors offer a perfectly balanced sensory experience. I talk so much about the indoors, here is a snapshot of our outdoor play today.

While our backyard isn't like an open meadow or forest we do provide unrestricted access. It's still winter but the sun has been out and it's been so very beautiful.

Our outdoor space is treated much like our indoor space. Weston has free access to his materials. It's almost a 'yes' space, there isn't anything he can't touch or do (besides eat the dirt or the plants). Our neighbor's dog keeps on getting over the fence which is a delight, Weston looks for her first thing in the morning.

Although we have an art easel, a sand/water table and, a few materials, Weston spends most of his time outdoors running around with a stick, or his rake - just being busy or digging. Buckets are very important to our outdoor space as Weston will spend a lot of time transporting water. He's also barefoot outdoors as much as he can while the warm weather is here. The feet get a lot of sensory feedback and going barefoot helps to develop those little feet muscles.

I'm also passionate about block play. In we had a unit block set that the boys often used outside. Unit blocks are very large and the children could build high structures. I wanted a set of blocks just for outside, we decided to use the very affordable tree branch blocks pictured above. These have a lovely texture and are perfect for Weston, with some big pieces and some little pieces. He can throw them, he can bang them together and he's not going to do any damage.

While we have chosen not to have a Pink Tower at home (Weston can use that once he starts school) we have toddler stacking boxes which are fun to use outside too.

The stacking boxes are large and heavy so they provide a different kind of experience for Weston.

It's all about experimenting and free play when you are outdoors!!!

Nature can be a great inspiration for artwork.

Using colorful leaves and flowers is a great way to change up your kid’s art supplies. They can make all sorts of collages and patterns with natural materials, or even combine them with traditional art supplies as well.

You can make interesting things to look at, and you can also make interesting things to listen to. Help your kids experiment with sound by creating a space where you can hang up bells, old pots and pans, PVC pipes, and any other interesting materials. Kids can use sticks and hands to discover new sounds.

Getting creative with nature goes way beyond pictures. Kids can also create huts, obstacle courses, or treasure hunts.

These are great ways for your child to practice independent creativity, and they are also perfect for group play.

Teamwork through a treasure hunt or coaching each other through an obstacle course are great activities for social, physical, and mental development.

Taking learning activities out into nature is crucial for the development of a child.

They will learn and grow in so many different ways. You likely have tons of opportunities for play and learning in your backyard or neighborhood, but you might also consider special trips to exciting outdoor locations like a beach, forest, park, or nature walk.

Many practical life activities are best done outside.

The Montessori philosophy includes an emphasis on teaching children through real-life activities that are part of an adult’s regular life. There are plenty of outdoor chores that could be adapted for child play and learning.

Imaginative play, different from the fantasy that Montessori avoids, can also flourish outside where there are a lot of new objects and environments to experience. All the new items that a child wouldn’t be able to find inside will spark their creativity. Art projects and sensory play become even more intriguing when they are based on outdoor materials.

The physical development benefits cannot be ignored. When you take play and learning outside, there is so much more space for the child to practice their mobility, as well as opportunities for challenging activities like balancing and climbing.

The outdoors provides an ideal environment for practical life activities, imaginative play, sensory work, motor skill development, and concrete learning. Learning activities rooted in nature are inexpensive and effective.

One of the best Montessori outdoor activities is gardening. Digging and weeding are excellent sensory activities that will increase dexterity and introduce appropriate challenges. Children will learn about plants as they see their garden grow over time and can gain a better grasp of the life cycle of the food that they prepare and eat inside. They can practice patience while watering and waiting for growth, and they will be intrigued by the different colors and textures that can come from a garden.

Kids Gardening Set from Amazon

With their very own kid-sized gardening toolset, they will feel important and independent while gardening. They can also use their mini gloves, shovels, and watering cans to help with other yard work. Kid-sized “toy” tools will help encourage imaginative play. Montessori encourages children to use their imagination to play and pretend in ways that are based on reality. They could pretend to be a farmer, or imagine that the rocks they dig up are seeds.

Another great outdoor practical life activity is washing. Lots of water, soap, and grime can get pretty messy, especially with younger children. Taking this activity outside can allow for greater freedom. Being outside also allows for kids to use the hose or wash something large like a car. A child-size bucket or spray bottle like the one in the gardening set may be easier for the child to use. They can wash toys, play equipment, or help you with larger tasks.

Washing is an important skill to learn, and soapy water adds a lot of sensory interest. Children will experience greater motor control, patience, and concentration. Practical life activities will really engage the mind as well as the body.

Climbing, Balance, and Movement

When you think of playing outside, you probably think about fun adventures based on physical activity, like running around, exploring, playing tag, or leapfrog. One of the best parts about taking children outside is all of the extra space they have to move.

Physical activity is obviously very important to the physical development of a child. Their coordination, balance, and strength will be greatly improved through outdoor play. Playing outside will also help them to connect with the world around them. Incorporating movement into learning will help kids process and retain information.

There are lots of great activities that mother nature provides all of the materials for. You really don’t need to have anything extra to successfully use the Montessori philosophy in outdoor play. Maria Montessori definitely didn’t have any fancy outdoor equipment in her school. However, there are certain products you can buy to enhance what is already available in nature.

If you are on a tight budget or don’t care for any extras, encourage your kids to climb, jump, and explore using logs, stones, and other natural materials that they can find. Sticks can make the borders on an obstacle course, and logs can be balance beams. You can kick pine cones and climb trees. There are plenty of ways to practice balance, coordination, and movement in a typical backyard space.

However, you may not always be able to count on finding the perfect sticks, stones, trees, and logs appropriate for a young child to play with. For climbing, you might consider purchasing a set of climbing holds that you can use to make a rock wall, or add onto a tree to make more appropriately spaced handholds and footholds.

For balance, these stepping stones or this balance beam are portable and dependable. You can arrange the pieces to create developmentally appropriate challenges or even create an obstacle course of sorts. Encourage the child to arrange these materials on their own to create the activities that they think are interesting and appropriate for themselves. Using plastic stones and beams with a non-slip coating will be a lot safer for children who are still struggling with balance.

Bicycles, balls, and jump ropes are great ways to encourage creative movement beyond the classic run, jump, and skip. Providing your child with alternate ways to get their energy out and practice their movement can help encourage them to experiment more and grow stronger.

Sensory Play

Nearly everything you find in nature can be used as part of a sensory activity. All the different textures, colors, smells, and sounds are incredibly stimulating. With mindfulness, even just stepping outside could be considered a sensory activity. You can feel the wind, smell the rain, and listen to the birds. Providing an exploration kit with various tools can encourage your child to seek out these sensory opportunities.

Kids seem to love getting messy. Dirt and mud will not only make a kid happy, but it will also aid in their cognitive development. The gardening set is perfect for digging, scooping, and pouring anything they find outside. Another great way for kids to play dirty is with a mud kitchen. Mud kitchens allow kids to “cook” with dirt, sticks, and stones. This is a great way to simultaneously encourage imaginative play and sensory play.

An easy way to switch between various sensory activities is by using a sensory table. Sensory tables are great for indoor or outdoor activities. Honestly, sensory tables are great to do outside whenever possible to help minimize mess and clean up. Dirt, sand, shells, pinecones, rocks, sticks, acorns, leaves, and so much more could be incorporated into a sensory bin.

If you are struggling with ideas of what to put in your next sensory bin activity, take some inspiration from nature. You can include materials straight from your backyard or make a bin that is themed around a certain season or outdoor location. The beach or snow could both make great themes for a sensory bin.

Wooden Sandbox with Corner Seating on Amazon

If you don’t like the idea of your kids playing in the mud or dirt, or if you want to provide more options, a sandbox is a great place for controlled digging, scooping, and pouring. It also provides a new texture and building material for kids that are looking for a change.

Seasons and Weather Exploration

Mother nature creates her own “toy rotation” with the changes of seasons and weather. It is common practice for parents and Montessori teachers to rotate toys and activities in and out of availability to help maintain interest and keep choices manageable. You don’t ever have to worry about planning rotation for outdoor activities (assuming you live somewhere with multiple seasons and weather conditions).

The four seasons will create slow and gradual changes that continuously introduce new experiences and opportunities. Outdoor play can also change on a day-to-day basis with different weather conditions. You aren’t limited to only playing in sun or shade; you can also take children outside to play in rain and snow for an exciting new experience. Excepting dangerous conditions, of course, there isn’t any “bad” weather for outdoor Montessori play. You just need to make sure that the kids have the proper clothing and gear for whatever is going on outside.

Children can rotate through collecting things like stones, leaves, acorns, seashells, pine cones, and more. Build snowmen in the winter, and make sure to include lots of water play in the heat of the summer. Kids will be fascinated by all the new things they can find and experience and the changes are awesome for their cognitive development.

They can start to gain an understanding of the progression of the seasons, and older kids can learn the science behind weather changes.

Opportunities to Create

Stepping outside opens the door to limitless creativity. Kids can create art, music, treasure hunts, and more. Encouraging your child to create will help them connect with nature in new and exciting ways. This is great for their cognitive development as they explore possibilities and aids in their independence and confidence. Creativity is super important to the Montessori philosophy. Giving a child space to create freely is incredible for their cognitive development.

Nature can be a great inspiration for artwork. Using colorful leaves and flowers is a great way to change up your kid’s art supplies. They can make all sorts of collages and patterns with natural materials, or even combine them with traditional art supplies as well.

You can make interesting things to look at, and you can also make interesting things to listen to. Help your kids experiment with sound by creating a space where you can hang up bells, old pots and pans, PVC pipes, and any other interesting materials. Kids can use sticks and hands to discover new sounds.

Getting creative with nature goes way beyond pictures. Kids can also create huts, obstacle courses, or treasure hunts. These are great ways for your child to practice independent creativity, and they are also perfect for group play. Teamwork through a treasure hunt or coaching each other through an obstacle course are great activities for social, physical, and mental development.

Explore and Play in Nature

Toddlers are just starting to learn about their world. Outdoor activities for 1-year-olds allow them to explore, learn, and play in nature. These activities help toddlers develop skills in every learning domain. Outdoor play is a full-sensory experience that helps build a love of nature early on. This blog post will share excellent, inspirational outdoor activities for 1-year-olds.

Table of Contents

How Do I Entertain My 1-Year-Old Outside?

I talked about this topic in my very first post on this blog (cringing at myself but also proud that I made that first entry). Unlike older toddlers, 1-year-olds are better entertained by open-ended activities that give them to chance to explore engaging objects or test their own skills.

Extra support from adults helps build up your toddler’s confidence and motivation to keep exploring outside. These outdoor activities support the developmental stage of play that 1-year-olds are in. But they still encourage caregiver participation.

What Kind Of Activities Can You Do With A 1-Year-Old?

1-year-old toddlers relish active, sensory-rich activities. They are also naturally curious and want to better understand the world.

Outdoor activities offer toddlers the perfect balance of wonder, action, and sensory stimulation.

How Long Should A 1-Year-Old Spend Outside?

There is no set amount of time that a 1-year-old should spend outside. Outdoor activities for toddlers can happen throughout the day, as long as there is supervision and appropriate weather. And I use the term “appropriate” to describe almost all weather. Extra layers or shorter chunks of playtime can make nearly any weather worth enjoying.

In general, it’s more critical for 1-year-olds to get plenty of physical activity. Outdoor play is a great way to help toddlers meet their daily activity needs.

When Is The Best Time Of Day To Take A One-Year-Old Outside?

As you’ll find in this activity, I believe outdoor play for a 1-year-old can be pretty flexible.

The best time of day to take a 1-year-old outside depends on the weather and the child’s schedule. For hot days, aim for mornings or closer to the end of the day to avoid the heat.

Mid-day may be the best time to take advantage of the warmer temperatures if it is cool out.

Planning around naps and meals is always a good idea. Toddlers thrive with consistent routines, so if possible, try to make outdoor time part of a regular schedule.

Outdoor Activities for 1-Year-Olds

Outdoor Meals

Food is still a rich sensory learning experience for 1-year-olds. Taking a snack or meal outside gives them a chance to enjoy nature while eating. Plus, the clean-up can be a lot easier, and spilled drinks aren’t a crisis.

Skills + Senses: Taste, Touch, Smell, Fine Motor, Social, Language

Treasure Hunt

This activity takes a little extra preparation. Think of this as an Easter egg hunt, but with whatever toys or curiosity-inducing objects you’d like to use. If you hide a collection of things that your toddler can collect, they will have everything they need to keep playing at the end of their treasure hunt.

Some ideas might be:

• Loose Parts Materials

• Dinosaur/animal/insect toys

• Puzzle pieces

• Board books

• Toy cars

• Action figures

Skills + Senses: Sight, Gross Motor, Cognitive

Outdoor Art

Outdoor art is a great way to encourage creativity and imagination. Outdoor space allows for messier play and larger canvases. This is perfect since 1-year-olds are still learning how to manipulate art materials. Outdoor art gives toddlers the freedom to turn an art activity into a full-body experience

• Spread out a large sheet for painting (with hands or feet)

• Use paintbrushes to paint walls or buildings with water

• Turn driveways or porches into sidewalk chalk murals

• Dip branches or pinecones into paints

Skills + Senses: Touch, Creativity, Cognitive, Fine Motor, Gross Motor

Toddler-Friendly Outdoor Toys

Each of the toys I’m sharing is developmentally appropriate for toddlers. Because 1-year-olds are still learning how to use and manipulate objects, many popular outdoor toys might be too advanced for right now. Still, caregivers should be comfortable that their 1-year-old might have some unique ideas on how to play with them.

• Sidewalk chalk (wet the sidewalk first for an extra element)

• Balls (large and small because they each have unique uses)

• Bubbles

• Small hula hoops

• Push toys

• Bean bags

• Pinwheels

• Water tables

• Sandboxes

• Pop-up tents (or DIY a blanket fort!)

• Kiddie pool (check out my complete list of Kiddie Pool Activities)

Skills + Senses: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Cognitive, Language

Flower Picking

Flower picking is a great activity for toddlers just starting to walk. It is also a great way to talk about characteristics like colors, shapes, and sizes.

Bringing flowers indoors adds a touch of nature to your home or classroom. These flowers can also spark conversations about the play experience your toddler had.

Alternative: Bring a jar your toddler can fill with nature objects such as stones, twigs, flowers, leaves, or nuts.

Skills + Senses: Smell, Cognitive, Fine Motor, Gross Motor

Risk-Taking Play

1-year-olds are starting to explore their world and test their limits. Outdoor activities for 1-year-olds should include some opportunity for risk-taking play. This type of play helps toddlers develop a sense of self, build confidence, and learn about cause and effect.

Some great examples of risk-taking play for 1-year-olds include climbing on playground equipment, running, climbing hills, or jumping.

Check out my post on risk-taking play for toddlers to learn more about its benefits and find more ideas.

Skills + Senses: Gross Motor, Vestibular, Proprioceptive, Emotional

Visit a Nature Park

Nature parks are rising in popularity. It’s hard to nail down exactly how to describe them because each is so different. Generally, these parks are designed to highlight the terrain and natural features of the area.

Children can learn about plants, insects, and animals. They have the chance to explore rocks, sand, water, and more.

Instead of plastic and metal playground equipment, these parks encourage active play with hills, tunnels, rock climbing, small streams, bridges, etc. Some have no equipment, others have equipment made from natural materials.

Unfortunately, not every community has access to a nature park. But I highly recommend looking into what might be available in your area. This can be a great learning experience for toddlers.

Skills + Senses: Gross Motor, Vestibular, Proprioceptive

Outdoor Dramatic Play

Outdoor dramatic play is a great way to encourage imagination and creativity. This activity can be as simple as setting up a pretend picnic or tea party.

Take your toddler’s favorite dolls, toy toolset, or costumes outside. Even toy kitchens become an exciting new activity when moved outdoors.

Find more imagination games for toddlers here.

Skills + Senses: Cognitive, Creativity, Social, Emotional, Language

Reading Outside

Bring your toddler’s favorite nature story to life by taking reading outdoors. You can plan to sit and read with your toddler. Or you can lay out a cozy blanket and set their favorite books in a basket. This is a perfect invitation to rest for a bit and read during outdoor play.

Skills + Senses: Language, Literacy, Social, Emotional, Cognitive

Exploring During Early Morning or Dusk

Sunrises and sunsets are a unique part of nature that children often do not experience. The colors, shadows, unusual sounds, temperature changes, frost, fog, or slow appearance of stars are all sensory-rich experiences toddlers can engage with.

These times are the perfect opportunity to offer your toddler a flashlight to investigate the shadows.

Skills + Senses: Sight, Cognitive, Emotional

Scavenger Hunts

I don’t just mean any scavenger hunt because I have shared somewhat out-of-the-box ideas about scavenger hunts outdoors.

6 Free Nature Scavenger Hunt PDFs here (I don’t even ask for your email.)

Skills + Senses: Sight, Gross Motor, Cognitive

Outdoor activities for 1-year-olds are a great way to help toddlers explore, learn, and play in nature. These activities can be done throughout the day and encourage creativity, exploration, problem-solving, and physical activity.

Inspiring Creative Thinking

The Inquiry Cycle For ARTventures

It’s important to remember that parents or teachers should carefully model the inquiry and investigation processes to guide kids through their learning. Inquiry-based experiences doesn’t mean you simply letting children loose to find answers to any question they’ve ever asked themselves. It means you will guide them through the process: offering encouragement and supportive and innovative conversations so they get the most out of their learning experience.

Using stage or grade-appropriate subjects and topics, students should form questions under the guidance of an adult and pushed in the right direction through structured activities. 

Orientation: Your littles are introduced to the ARTventure challenge in a broad sense. They learn the basics of the challenge to use something new in their process art. They should become intrigued with some of the most exciting aspects of the subject, and their neurons start to fire with questions and curiosities. The team shares ideas on the other tools, supplies and surface they want to use in this experience.

Questioning: Students ask questions about the experience based on their own curiosity and interests. And we remind them that their focus is to enjoy the learning process and that they are just experimenting. They may make predictions or hypotheses about the outcome.

Exploration: Explore and discuss old projects with similar processes that they have tried and been successful with. Students use any and all resources available to them to explore information and find solutions to their challenge.

Discussion and Reflection:
Students deepen their understanding of their own learning by discussing it with their peers and teacher.
Students reflect on their learning process, and determine how they can ask more questions or create something new.

Why should we use inquiry-based learning?

As your child grows, you will want them to hold conversations with their peers and be able to form questions (even if it includes asking how eyeballs work…*sigh*).

• Allows children to construct – Who doesn’t love building blocks? I do! They’re my preschooler’s jam when it comes to figuring out how things fit together and build.

• Allows reasonable risks – We’ve all got to take risks (yes, even your children!). It’s a way for them to learn so they can figure out how to do things for themselves.

• Connects play and problem-solving – Problem-solving by itself is, dare I say it? Kind of boring. I mean, what kid wants to solve algebra when they could be doing it through play?! Put those math worksheets away and introduce inquiry-based learning instead. You can read more

• Expands upon prior knowledge and experiences – For your kids to develop, they need to build up their skills and knowledge, especially when they reach Kindergarten.

• Explores creativity – We use creativity for EVERYTHING. I mean it, figuring out how to stop your child from getting into your makeup bag? Yeah. That requires creativity. But mom troubles aside, kids need imagination for math, literacy, art, and communication.

• Flexible thinking – Kids need to learn to think more than one way, and they do that by expanding their mindset by trial and error. If something doesn’t work, they need to adapt their thinking to find a way that does!

• Hands-on learning through play – The best kind of learning is when you don’t even realize you’re doing it. It’s way less stress on your little one’s brain, and it’s fun!

• Tests hypothesis – Children are little scientists. If they have an idea, they’ll want to experiment and see if it’s true. If it doesn’t, let’s try something else!

RELATED: Kid activities at home are our jam. You will LOVE this list of easy ways to play at home.

How Process Art and Open-Ended Experiences Inspire Creativity

Process art and open-ended experiences allow children to engage in creative expression that focuses more on their own exploration than what the product of their art will be. Allowing children time for creative experiences has many developmental benefits and is an important part of curriculum.

What is Process Art?

According to NAEYC’s online article, How Process-Focused Art Experiences Support Preschoolers, process art has the following characteristics:

• There are no step-by-step instructions or samples for children to follow; and no right or wrong way to explore and create

• The art is focused on the experience and on exploration of techniques, tools, and materials

• The art is unique and original and entirely the children’s own

• The experience is relaxing or calming and is the child’s choice

How does Process Art Encourage Creativity?

When teachers emphasize the process rather than the product and provide a classroom environment that allows children to explore without constraints, children can let their imagination run free. These open-ended experiences allow children to create and enjoy the use of artistic materials. Children can express themselves, their thoughts, and their ideas through art. When children are handed projects with a specific outcome in mind, it can limit their self-expression by focusing on making a specific product rather than simply creating.

Early Childhood News’s article, Fostering Creativity, summarizes ideas for teachers to encourage creativity with preschoolers through open-ended experiences, using James Moran III’s suggestions below:

• Adapt to children's ideas rather than trying to structure the children's ideas to fit the adult's.

• Use creative problem solving in all parts of the curriculum. Use the problems that naturally occur in everyday life.

Early Learning Benefits

NAEYC’S article, Supporting the Development of Creativity, lists the several benefits for children, including the following:

• Physical Development: Small motor skills develop as children use glue, paints, and play with clay. These small motor skills are important for future writing skills and kindergarten readiness.

• Language & Literacy Development: Engaging in art with children, leads to conversation that expands their vocabulary. Children are able to express ideas through art and this type of conversation supports literacy development.

• Social and Emotional Development: Art is a form of self-exploration and self-expression. Engaging in creative projects supports the development of self-regulation and self-control as children practice focus and take pride in the work they have done when their project is complete.

Ideas for Activities

• Collaging with Tear Art: An idea that worked really well for a Colorado pre-k teacher was to encourage the 3-5 year-olds in her class to create using only construction paper a glue stick. There was not a pattern nor were scissors used…Just tear and create!

• Painting with unique materials:Try to use different materials as paint brushes! Use feathers, leaves, sponges, sticks, or kitchen utensils to make unique markings on paper. Talk with children about the different patterns and textures you see. Or swap out your paper for foil, clear plastic wrap, or even a rock!

• Add music: Try to play music with a quick, upbeat tune and then switch to music with a slower and more peaceful melody, and ask children to paint how the music makes them feel. Watch as they allow their bodies to move to the different beats and then talk later about what they created.

• Work together: Create a mural by allowing the children to all work on a large piece together! This type of project inspires collaboration, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.

NAEYC also suggests the following when Leading Process-Focused Art:

1. Approach art like open-ended play—for example, provide a variety of materials (including regularly introducing new materials) and see what happens as the child leads the art experience

2. Make art a joyful experience. Let children use more paint, more colors, and make more and more artwork

3. Provide plenty of time for children to carry out their plans and explorations and let children come and go from their art at will

4. Notice and comment on what you see “Look at all the yellow dots you painted”

5. Take art materials outside in the natural light

6. Display children’s books with artful illustrations, such as those by Eric Carle

CREATIVE PAINT BRUSHES: SIMPLE PROCESS ART FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS

Toddlers and preschoolers enjoy opportunities to be creative and engage in an open-ended project, and painting is just that! You can change up a child’s creative and tactile experience offering stamps, sponges or other items for applying paint. Unusual paint brushes are any materials that children dip in paint to stamp, smudge, or smear. MORE...

USING RECYCLED MATERIALS IN AN EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Recycled materials, also referred to as “found materials,” are easy to access, versatile, and economical. They can be incorporated into a variety of classroom activities, such as canvases and materials for art, and loose parts for construction projects. MORE

Seasonal themed potato print ideas

22 Rainbow crafts, experiments and activity ideas

Tataki zome – Flower pounding and leaf bashing

Nature painting – DIY nature brushes and easels

Simple suncatchers

You want us to Create Art with WHAT!?!

Babies that are zero to two are in the SENSORIMOTOR stage of cognitive development. “During the sensorimotor stage infants learn mostly through trial and error learning. Children initially rely on reflexes, eventually modifying them to adapt to their world. Behaviors become goal directed, progressing from concrete to abstract goals. Objects and events can be mentally represented by the child (sometimes called object permanence).” Saul McLeod, SimplyPsychology

Enabling Open Ended Tinkering

POSTED BY: POPSICLES AND PLAY

During open-ended play or tinkering, children have the ability to make their own decisions and have full access to their creativity and imagination.

WHY IS OPEN-ENDED TINKERING IMPORTANT?

It enables your child to practice decision making skills. When children aren’t handed a set of instructions, they make their own. Rather than telling a child how to do something, open-ended play leaves the decision-making up to them.

It encourages children to be more open to experiment with new ideas and learn new concepts.

There’s no “wrong” way for children to engage in open-ended tinkering. When children have the ability to play without instruction, they become less concerned with doing the activity correctly.

Open-ended tinkering instills confidence within your child to experiment with new concepts as they realize there’s no right or wrong way to engage.

It promotes problem solving skill in children, one of the most important skills needed in today’s world.

Take an open-ended toy like building blocks. They have the cause-and-effect feature: “When I stack too many blocks, they fall.” “When I hit two blocks together, it makes a sound.” “And when I place the square on the rectangle, it stays, but on the ball, it falls.” And because open-ended toys have no clear instructions, he need to solve problems on his own. For instance, he learns how to stack the blocks so they resemble a house without them falling down.

It encourages creativity and imagination in your child to flow freely.

Open-ended play is a chance for a child to use their imagination. Electronics have taken away a child’s ability to use their imagination because it does everything for them. For just a little bit, open-ended play allows a child to pretend and to use their imagination, which is ever-so-exciting.

And more importantly, many of the open ended toys and materials are TIMELESS.

Many open-ended toys kids play with today are the same ones we played with in our childhoods. They’re simple, timeless and last through the ages. The same zeal you once had with opening a cup of play dough is the same that your child will feel as well.

I know many friends who are still tinkering with Lego blocks even at 30 years old! They were presented with toys and materials to create and build with at an early age. Tinkering became a part of who they are.

Timeless toys and materials also mean that they can be used again and again with your 2nd child or your 3rd child, and they will still instill the same interest and passion, and benefits in the child!

Something I’ve learnt in my personal journey of 40 years working with children is when it comes to open ended play, is that if you are newly introduced to your child or in the very initial stages a little guidance and prompting is very helpful as they build their imaginations and are new to gleaning ideas from their own mind. Below are some tips!

Exploring how things work in our world

Discovering our World
with Science & STEM

AnnMarie Thomas with The Maker Education Initiative captures the mentality of The Maker Movement. “… making allows kids to follow their own interests and passions and create something that is uniquely theirs, while applying the knowledge they are gathering in all aspects of life.”

Fun and Engaging Science Activities for Infants

By Michele Meleen M.S.Ed.

Children are born with an inquisitive mind and learn about their world through discovery. Scientific concepts are a natural part of every baby's life. A combination of structured activities and free play will help babies discover what things are and how they work.

Astronomy

Given most babies' sometimes wacky sleeping schedules, it may be possible to take your baby outside and show her the starry night sky. However, if you have a great sleeper, or live in an urban area, observing the sky at night could be impossible to try at this age.

Seeing Stars

This activity can be done with infants of any age and requires parental assistance.

What You Need:

• Hole punch

• Index card

• White envelope

• Flashlight

Directions:

1. Punch several holes in the index card. You can make a fun shape if you want.

2. Place the index card in the envelope.

3. Keep the lights on indoors and hold the envelope out in front of you with the flashlight about two inches from the front of the envelope. You can either sit baby on your lap or hold the items directly in front of him. Observe the "stars" you created with the hole punch.

4. Move the flashlight to the back of the envelope, at the same distance. Allow baby to hold the flashlight and experiment while you make descriptive statements and ask questions.

The Result:

You should see the stars better when holding the flashlight behind the envelope because your body is blocking some light from the room. This is the same concept behind why stars can only be seen at night.

Biology

Biology is the branch of science that deals with living things, such as plants and animals. Simple activities like following a pet around and observing its behaviors can be entertaining for infants. While younger babies might only be able to watch, projects such as planting and tending to a garden will help teach biological concepts. Older infants will be able to take a more hands-on role.

Fish Out of Water

In this activity, you will create a thaumatrope to show your baby. A thaumatrope is a toy that moves quickly causing two separate pictures to appear as one. Adults will need to make and demonstrate the project, but babies of any age can enjoy watching the rapid movement revealed in this science experiment appropriate for infants and toddlers.

What You Need:

• White card stock

• Pen

• Scissors

• String

• Hole punch

• Ruler

Directions:

1. Cut a four-inch circle from the card stock. You can trace the bottom of a can or jar to make a perfect circle.

2. Near the edge in the middle of one side of the circle punch two holes, one slightly above the other. Repeat this on the opposite side of the circle.

3. Measure and cut two equal pieces of string, about 24 inches in length.

4. Using one string and one set of the punched holes, thread the string through one hole and out the other. Repeat on the opposite side.

5. Draw an empty fish bowl on one side of the paper and a simple fish on the opposite side, centering each as best you can.

6. Holding the strings to the sides, twist the paper disc so the string gets twisted.

7. Pull straight out on the strings as far as you can and watch the paper spin.

The Result:

As the circle spins faster it will appear as if the fish is actually inside the bowl. Your mind retains each picture as it passes and when the pictures pass this quickly, they overlap in your mind.

This experiment can also be done with a piece of sturdy paper taped to a pencil. In this case, you would twist the pencil by holding it upright between the palms of your hands. You can also get creative with the images by drawing other objects like a bird and a birdcage.

Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of matter, which is anything that has mass and takes up space. Because babies learn through sensory experiences this particular branch of science can be the most fun for babies and small children. There are many simple ways to explore chemistry with your infant. However, keep in mind one sense babies use frequently is taste. When offering these activities be sure to use ingredients that are safe to ingest in case baby eats some.

• Make edible play dough. Younger infants can watch as you mix ingredients while older babies can help dump in pre-measured parts.

• Using milk, food coloring and liquid dish soap you can show 'currents' of color created by the resistance of the milk fat to the watery food coloring.

• Demonstrate the attraction between positive and negative parts by rubbing a balloon against your (or baby's) hair then picking up small circles of paper made with a hole punch.

• Make edible finger paints. Show baby how mixing two colors can create a new color.

• Demonstrate how gas is removed from a solution by taping a balloon over the top of a pop bottle, then shaking the bottle. (Make sure to use a thumb to hold the balloon in place.) The balloon will fill with the gas as it is released.

• Create a fizzy chemical reaction by mixing baking soda and vinegar.

Earth Science

Earth science encompasses geology, astronomy, oceanography and meteorology where our planet and surrounding areas are studied. Simple activities that showcase Earth Science concepts include:

• Making waves in the bathtub or water table

• Playing in the sand or at the beach

• Watching videos of meteor showers

• Playing with a collection of medium-sized rocks (that can't be ingested or cause a major injury)

Acid Destruction

Babies who are able to grip small objects can help with this experiment by dropping the chalk into the vinegar when it is time. Younger infants can watch as the bubbles magically appear.

What You Need:

• Standard stick of white chalk

• Vinegar

• Tall glass

Directions:

1. Fill the glass about one-quarter full of vinegar.

2. Drop a piece of chalk into the vinegar.

The Result:

You will see bubbles rise from the chalk and eventually see the piece of chalk break apart. As an acid, the vinegar reacts with the chalk which is made from limestone. This reaction causes the release of carbon dioxide, which is why you see the bubbles.

For older babies you could experiment with different types of rocks and natural materials to see if the effect is different. These variations may not capture the attention of younger babies, especially if the new materials do not cause a reaction.

Physics

One of the more complicated branches of science, physics involves studying how stuff (matter) and energy relate to and affect each other both literally and theoretically. Some concepts covered under this branch include magnetism, electricity and mechanics. Fun activities for infants that involve these ideas and can either be demonstrated or acted out by baby include:

• Placing and removing magnets on the fridge

• Turning on the power switch of a toy or safe object like a desk lamp

Boom, Boom

Parents and caregivers can demonstrate this activity and older babies may be able to participate in a more hands-on way.

What You Need:

• Tennis ball

• Wagon

Directions:

1. Put the ball in the middle of the wagon bed.

2. Quickly pull or push the wagon forward.

3. Reset the ball and repeat.

The Result:

As the wagon moves, the ball will hit the back of it making a 'boom' or 'bang' sound (using a tennis ball helps ensure the sound is not too loud). The ball is stationary; it is actually the wagon that moves from under the ball which is why the ball hits the back of the wagon and not the front. This represents a demonstration of inertia which is the resistance to a change in motion.

How to Encourage Science Learning

You don't have to be a certified scientist to help your child learn about the scientific process or science concepts. The natural curiosity of babies combined with bits of useful information from a trusted adult creates an ideal environment for science learning. Experts at Head Start and parent intuition demonstrate there are many simple ways you can encourage your baby to question, explore and discover the world.

• Describe what your baby is seeing and doing as she explores.

• Ask questions about everyday objects and actions.

• Allow for unstructured exploration.

• Read books related to planned activities.

• Introduce different environments and a wide variety of objects.

Attention Span Considerations

Keep in mind, infants have a very short attention span and plan activities accordingly. Healthychildren.org suggest by eight months old, a baby's attention span is only two to three minutes. By the age of one, this attention span may increase to a maximum of 15 minutes. It is important to be aware of this whether you are working with your own child or if you are preparing science activities for babies and toddlers in a childcare setting.

Adapt for Age

Another key point to consider is most scientific experiments and activities can be adapted to work for children of all ages. Scientist Steve Spangler has a great website with loads of experiments that can be used to create science lesson plans for infants and toddlers, as well as for older children. It also showcases science-related products.

Age-Appropriate Scientific Concepts for Babies

There are many scientific concepts babies can easily learn about.

• Cause and effect

• Object permanence

• Gravity

• Problem-solving

• Size and shape

• Buoyancy

• Spatial awareness

• Opposites (empty/full, in/out, wet/dry)

Science lessons that include sensory activities are particularly beneficial for infants.

Science Is Fun for Everyone

The skills used in making scientific discoveries are helpful in many other aspects of life. Helping your child develop an early love for discovery can be a lifelong gift. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities for infants and toddlers can help lay the groundwork for your child's future success, as can age-appropriate learning activities related to art, sign language, math, and more. Begin teaching your child about science and other topics when he or she is an infant, and continue into the toddler years, preschool, and beyond.

How To Introduce STEM Activities To Babies And Toddlers For Better Learning

Albert Einstein said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”

Maybe you have heard of STEM play, its a new philosophy and method on how to teach kids in a well-rounded manner.

STEM is an acronym for “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math” (also known as STEAM if you include art in there as well and you should).

Way before your child knows how to do math or completes science projects, they begin learning the skills that will lead up to those things, and that’s what STEM Learning is all about.

You can start STEM activities at a very early age too, even young babies will benefit from them.

Learn more about how STEM works below!

Bright Hub Education explained each element of STEM very well:

• “Science is a way of thinking through experiments, observation, making predictions, asking questions, and deciding how things work.

• Technology is a way of doing. With learning tools, kids become inventive, identify problems, and make things work.

• Engineering is also a way of doing. A child can solve problems with a variety of materials – they design and create. Little learners build things that work.

• Math is a way of measuring. Preschoolers explore shapes, size, volume, and learn about patterns and sequencing.” Bright Hub Education

What are the benefits of STEM learning?

• STEM gets kids excited to learn.

• STEM is all about curiosity which strengthens the brain.

• STEM teaches kids to fail – and that it’s okay!

• STEM prepares kids for today’s technology.

• STEM fosters creativity and imagination.

• STEM promotes independent play – let your child lead and see what they discover on their own.

• STEM helps kids relate to the world around them.

• STEM helps kids with memory retention.

• STEM will better prepare kids for school.

 STEM learning does not mean a complicated DIY science experiment where you need a ton of time and materials. It can be as simple as going outside in nature with your child.Ask “What” questions when exploring:What are those bugs doing?

What shape is that stone?
What is on the tree branch?
What is under that rock?
What do you see in the clouds?

For babies, try to not say “no” often and instead let your baby explore more freely. For example, our son used to get into this cupboard in the kitchen that was located on the ground level (all the other cabinets had safety locks), but this particular cupboard was filled with old baby bottles, plastic containers, lids, and things like this so we left it unlocked.

Our son LOVED opening this cupboard and taking out everything inside and then he would even climb in the cupboard and play in there (the door was always open).

Yes, it made a huge mess on the kitchen floor, but instead of saying “no,” we allowed him to play and explore. Afterward, I just cleaned it up – no big deal. This cupboard would keep him entertained for a good 45 minutes! With a baby’s short attention span, this was amazing and proves that STEM activities and toys are more engaging for kids.

For toddlers, STEM gets even more fun when we can talk with our kids, listen to what they have to say, and watch them imagine and figure things out.Stemsational is a fabulous blog about STEM activities for kids. It can give you some great ideas!“STEM projects for toddlers help children explore a variety of thinking skills that boost both their creativity, logic, space awareness, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills. Toddlers who engage these systems, versus toddlers who largely learn from screens and immobile activities have a huge advantage once they reach school-age.” (Source – Steamsational)

In addition to DIY STEM learning, STEM toys are really important because these are the best toys that will help your child develop and learn instead of just sitting around collecting dust.

Take a minute to think about your child’s top three favorite toys. I bet they are interactive in some way, right?We just donated two trash bags of toys to our son’s pre-school because we noticed he only played with three main toys:

• His cars / hot wheels (he loves to line them up and one by one he looks at each car carefully, it’s really cute. Especially when he says, “Look, Camero!” or “Mama, Hummer!” Also, he sorts all his cars by color in piles)

• Building blocks

• Lincoln logs

Baby Savers published an amazing list of ideas and activities for parents to refer to when choosing STEM toys:“Seek out toys that encourage one or more of the following ideas or activities:

• Comparing

• Sorting

• Sequencing (putting things in order)

• Observing

• Speed and distance

• Cause and effect

• Questions

• Predictions

• Identifying shapes, numbers and/or letters

• Measuring

• Spatial sense

• Problem-solving

• Building or balancing”

Baby Savers

Additionally, here are some great tips to follow when introducing your baby / toddler to STEM toys:

• Keep it simple.

• Avoid technology.

• Don’t use battery-operated toys that tend to guide the child on how to play instead of the child exploring and learning on their own.

• Avoid teaching.

• Make it fun.

• Talk together.

• Follow your child’s imagination – there’s no right or wrong way!

• Switch it up a bit – dad can be cooking and mom can be mowing the lawn.

STEM Projects for Toddlers

Even toddlers can explore STEM! Check out our main idea list of STEM Projects for Toddlers and find a STEM activity even a one year old can try!

STEM Activities for Preschoolers

For preschoolers, STEM is all about learning how things work and the whys behind everyday occurrences. Check out the complete list of preschool STEM activities and then check out these seasonal STEM activities for preschool!

How Can I Teach Preschool Science Lesson Plans?

The coolest thing about STEM activities is that the focus is not on results, but on the process.

This means that even if you were terrible at science in high school, you can still learn alongside your kids to teach them the basic principles of STEM thinking.

All of the preschool STEAM activities in this list use household materials, so it is unlikely that you’ll need to many any special trips to weird stores to find supplies. Just gather your supplies, do the activity, and learn together!

Don’t Miss: Quick STEM Activities for When You’re in a Rush

Tips for the Success of Your STEAM Lesson Plans for Preschool

Like any other kids activity, the success of your STEM activities will depend on a few things. Follow this simple guide to improve your overall STEM experience and reduce frustration (and messes!).

1. Have all supplies on hand.

2. Know how to do the activity in advance.

3. Introduce the materials to kids one step at a time.

4. Explain the STEM concept before bringing out hands-on materials.

5. Encourage kids to wait for instructions before starting the activity.

6. Expect that messes and errors will happen. The kids are in preschool, after all!

7. Have the kids help replace the supplies when finished. This will help establish respect for supplies and tools.

Your Kids Will Love: Spectacular Science Experiments in Jars

Tons of Fun STEM Activities for Preschool

Check out the list below of the best STEM activities for preschoolers!

Try these preschool STEAM activities that your preschoolers will love! STEM activities for preschoolers have never been so much fun before!

Seasonal STEM Activities for Preschool

Preschoolers will love these STEM experiments with a seasonal twist!

Spring STEM for Preschoolers

Spring STEM Activities for Preschoolers

Frog Activities for Preschoolers with a STEM Twist

Summer STEM Ideas for Preschool

Hands-On Activities for a Preschool Circus Theme

Summer STEM Calendar

Fall STEM Experiments for Preschool

23 Halloween Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers

11 Books about Pumpkins for Preschool (with a STEM twist!)

Thanksgiving STEM Activities for Preschool

These are our favorite Thanksgiving STEM activities for preschool.

Winter STEM Projects for Preschoolers

Fun Winter STEM Activities for Preschoolers

Easy Winter Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Christmas STEM Activities for Preschool

You won’t want to miss this fun list of Christmas STEM activities for preschool.

Easy STEM Activities for Preschoolers

No need to be overwhelmed by the challenges of doing STEM activities with preschoolers. These STEM activities are easy!

Fluffy Slime Science Experiment

Tornado in a Jar Science Experiment

Making Butter STEM Activity

Classic Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano Science Experiment

Magic Milk STEM Activity

Fizzing Rainbows Chemical Reaction Science

Flower Dissection Tray Science

Magic Milk Rainbow Science STEM Activity

Rainbow Naked Eggs Science Experiment

Liquid Density Jar Science Experiment

Walking Rainbow Science Challenge

Turning Pennies Green STEM Activity

Seed Sprouting STEM Activity

Non-Newtonian Fluid Oobleck Science Experiment

Oil and Water Science Experiment

Magnifying Glass Discovery Tray Science

Preschool Animal STEM Activities

Salt Crystal Dinosaur STEM Activity

STEM Crafts for Preschoolers

These STEM experiments are not just an experiment, but also a STEM craft you can take home!

Apple Tree Life Cycle STEM Activity

Color Mixing Flower Science Activity

Falling Glitter Jars

Bee Life Cycle Craft

Get Our STEM Challenge Prompts for Preschoolers!