Superscript

SPARKING EARLY CURIOSITY:
STEM PLAY FOR INFANTS

Guest Author -By: I'm The Chef Too Team

Imagine a tiny hand reaching out to grasp a crinkly toy, eyes wide with wonder as a simple rattle makes a sound, or a baby giggling uncontrollably as you play peek-a-boo. These aren't just adorable moments; they are the very beginnings of scientific exploration, technological understanding, engineering design, and mathematical thinking. 

It’s never too early to introduce young learners to STEM concepts and science explorations! Science experiences even the littlest learners the opportunity to discover and understand STEM concepts through hands-on learning. Kaplan’s selection of science materials, resources, and activities gives children an opportunity to develop critical science skills, explore the world around them, and embrace their natural curiosity and wonder! 

Yes, even in their earliest months, infants are natural scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, constantly observing, experimenting, and building their understanding of the world. 

And know that you can find science in every toy and the type of play that they encourage. 

• Stacking & Nesting Toys: Explore balance, size, order, and cause & effect (what happens when I stack them high?).

• Shape Sorters: Introduce early geometry, problem-solving, and matching.

• Balls (Various Sizes): Teach concepts of motion, gravity, rolling, and tracking objects.

• Bubbles: A sensory delight! Teaches light, air, movement, and encourages reaching/chasing.

• Discovery Mirrors: Help with self-awareness and understanding reflections.

• Simple Musical Toys/Mats: Introduce sound, rhythm, and how actions create sounds (cause & effect).

• Push/Pull Toys & Ride-Ons: Develop gross motor skills, balance, and the concept of force.

• Toys with Dials, Knobs, Switches: Teach mechanical action and immediate feedback.

• Pipettes/Droppers (with supervision/water): Simple introduction to liquid behavior and control.

• Soft Blocks: Building and knocking down teaches physics basics in a safe way. 

Everyday Science Experiences (No Specific Toy Needed!):

• Water Play: Let them splash with cups and containers (supervised).

• Exploring Textures: Different fabrics, sand, water, leaves.

• Following Light: Shine a flashlight or use a simple torch. 

These toys build critical thinking by allowing babies to observe, experiment, and see results in a safe, engaging environment, laying groundwork for future STEM learning. 

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Playtime Science 

Now I have been defending all art and play being foundational science since the early ‘80’s in seminars, websites and training programs. Ok I am old now (65) so I can understand how young students and workers are questioning the relevance of my concepts in today's world. But anyway…one arrogant student recently asked me why I am the only website to make the claim that both art and play are based in science. My response was that I didn’t notice that being true. That there was tons of supportive data all over the web that art and play build a scientific understanding of our world in their little minds.  

So even with me saying I was going to stop writing, I am writing a response to this dilemma or challenge.    

Exploring Science with Painting 

Painting is basically the movement of liquid as in hydrology and chemistry interplays if you make your own paint. 

Painting is deeply intertwined with science through the chemistry of materials (pigments, binders), the physics of light and color (how we see hues), the biology of perception, and the artistic documentation/communication of scientific concepts, using skills like observation, experimentation, and creative problem-solving common to both fields. Artists explore light, while scientists use art to visualize data and explain complex ideas, making them complementary ways of understanding the world. Inspiring Discovery: Art can show potential scientific realities (like exoplanets before discovery) or present phenomena (like clouds) in new ways, sparking scientific questions and theories. 

Shared Processes & Skills

• Inquiry: Both fields rely on deep observation, asking questions, exploring, and interpreting the world.

• Experimentation: Both involve trial and error, testing hypotheses (or color mixes), and developing new methods. 

• Examples of Intersection

• Scientific Illustration: From ancient cave paintings to modern biology diagrams, art documents scientific findings.

• Artist-Scientists: Artists like James Turrell use engineering and light science to create immersive art, while scientists use art to conceptualize. 

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Exploring Science With Collage 
and Building Items

Playing with Collage (paper and felt) and building items (loose parts and blocks) bring forth creativity and art skills, physics and engineering play.

Creating collages and building play are foundational to science for babies because they foster ** curiosity, exploration, problem-solving, and understanding physical properties** through hands-on testing, comparing, sorting, and hypothesizing about materials, building skills like balance, space, and measurement naturally, all key elements of scientific inquiry and STEAM. These open-ended activities let babies test cause-and-effect (what happens when I stack this?), observe differences (big vs. small, heavy vs. light), and develop cognitive flexibility, laying the groundwork for scientific thinking. 

How Building Play (Blocks, Loose Parts) Links to Science:

• Physics & Engineering: Stacking blocks teaches gravity, balance, and structure; arranging sticks or rocks demonstrates stability and forces (Newton's Laws).

• Measurement & Geometry: Lining things up, using boxes to see what fits, or comparing sizes introduces early math and spatial concepts.

• Cause & Effect: Knocking down towers shows consequences; figuring out how to build higher is experimentation.

• Hypothesis Testing: "What if I put this heavy block on top?". 

How Collage (Nature, Textures) Links to Science:

• Observation & Classification: Sorting leaves by color, shape, or texture develops observational skills.

• Sensory Exploration: Touching different materials (feathers, sand, fabric) teaches about physical properties and textures, a core science activity.

• Art as Data: Creating a nature collage or journal documents discoveries, helping babies recall and compare experiences, which supports memory and revisiting scientific observations.

• STEAM Integration: It connects Art (color, texture) with Science (properties, observation) and Math (sorting, counting items). 

The Core Scientific Skills Developed:

• Inquiry: Asking "what if" and "why".

• Prediction: Guessing what might happen.

• Comparison: "Which is bigger/smoother?".

• Problem-Solving: Figuring out how to attach items or build something stable.

• Documentation: Drawing or talking about creations. 

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Superscript

Exploring Science During Nature Play

Nature play is foundational for science learning in babies and toddlers because it provides a rich, sensory, hands-on laboratory where they naturally experiment with cause-and-effect, physics, biology, and engineering through simple interactions, building core STEM concepts and critical thinking skills long before formal schooling. From splashing water (physics/states of matter) to observing bugs (biology/ecology) and building with sticks (engineering), babies develop curiosity and intuitions about how the world works, forming the basis for future scientific understanding. 

Cognitive Development

• Curiosity & Critical Thinking: Nature's unpredictability encourages questions, experimentation, and cause-and-effect learning (e.g., building a dam).

• Memory & Concentration: Rich sensory environments improve memory retention and focus. 

Physical Health & Motor Skills

• Gross Motor Skills: Climbing, balancing, and running build strength, coordination, and balance.

• Overall Well-being: Outdoor activity reduces stress and supports healthy brain function. 

Social & Emotional Growth

• Resilience & Risk-Taking: Safe risks in nature build confidence and emotional resilience.

• Collaboration: Working together to navigate challenges (like building a fort) fosters teamwork and social harmony. 

Environmental Stewardship

• Responsibility & Empathy: Direct connection fosters a sense of belonging and responsibility to protect nature.

• Sustainability: Instills values for a sustainable future from a young age. 

Why It Works

• Sensory Richness: Engages all senses, providing deeper learning than indoor settings.

• Authentic Play: Offers endless, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate learning through play. 

How Nature Play Develops Scientific Thinking:

• Sensory Exploration: Touching mud, water, leaves, and sand engages multiple senses, helping babies understand textures, temperatures, and properties of materials (like solid vs. liquid).

• Cause & Effect: Splashing water, dropping pebbles, or rolling balls down slopes teaches physics concepts like gravity, force, and motion intuitively.

• Observation & Inquiry: Watching plants grow, noticing weather changes, or tracking an ant sparks curiosity and encourages observational skills, the heart of scientific inquiry.

• Problem-Solving & Engineering: Building with sticks, digging in dirt, or creating dams in streams involves testing ideas, adapting, and developing basic engineering and spatial reasoning.

• Language & Vocabulary: Exploring nature helps children learn words for actions, objects, and concepts (like "heavy," "float," "smooth," "branch"), boosting STEM vocabulary. 

Examples of Science in Nature Play:

• Physics: Throwing a leaf and watching it float vs. a rock sinking.

• Biology: Observing worms in soil or flowers blooming.

• Earth Science: Feeling the texture of different rocks or the coolness of mud.

• Engineering: Stacking stones to see if they stay up. 

By providing unstructured time in natural settings, parents and caregivers offer babies a powerful, real-world laboratory that nurtures the curiosity and foundational skills needed for future STEM success. 

The Benefits of Outdoor Play

Outdoor play isn’t just about having fun; it’s essential for healthy development. Fresh air, movement, and unstructured play support physical, mental, and social growth.

You don’t need to plan every moment or entertain them nonstop. Just get outside and let their imaginations run wild. Climbing, digging, building, and pretend play all come naturally when kids have the space to move and explore.

With so many ways to play, your kids will fall in love with nature in no time! Plus, daily outdoor play naturally reduces screen time. It’s a win-win. 

Running, jumping, and hands-on activities keep kids engaged while strengthening motor skills, coordination, and balance.

Bring the fun outside with constructive play! Whether stacking wooden building blocks or creating obstacle courses, open-ended play is just as exciting outdoors.

Remember when your parents sent you outside to play? They were right! The benefits of outdoor play last a lifetime. So let’s keep the tradition going.

Children Who Spend Time Outdoors In Nature Are More Likely To:

• Engage in regular physical activity to help prevent health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

• Having a stronger immune system makes them less likely to get sick.

• Be calmer with less stress.

• Enjoy greater concentration, an improved mood, and a better night’s sleep.

• Have stronger bones due to increased Vitamin D intake.

• Support gross motor development for better balance, coordination, and agility.

• Develop a passion for nature and conservation.

• Have improved awareness, observation, and reasoning skills.

• Play more creatively.

• Have bigger imaginations.

• Respect and get along better with others.

• Have more self-respect.

After all your exploring, be sure to save those things your child found outside. The materials collected can be used in nature crafts, including this nature tray. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s embark on an outdoor adventure filled with discovery, laughter, and endless memories. Adventure awaits, my friend!

Grab this wooden block set or these wooden blocks for kids, and head outdoors with your kids today!

Nature play for babies focuses on sensory exploration and safe discovery, involving activities like feeling soft grass/moss, watching clouds, listening to birds, splashing in shallow water/puddles with leaves, touching flowers/feathers (supervised!), making simple mud kitchens, creating nature collages with contact paper, and gentle nature walks to observe colors, sounds, and smells, all while ensuring supervision and avoiding choking hazards. 

Sensory & Exploration

• Barefoot & Blanket Time: Lay a blanket on soft grass or moss for the baby to feel, or stand them barefoot to experience different textures.

• Cloud Gazing: Lie together on a blanket and point out cloud shapes and the sky's colors.

• Sound Safari: Listen for birds, rustling leaves, or buzzing insects during walks.

• Touch & Smell: Gently touch flowers, petals, feathers, or soft leaves; let them smell safe scents like lavender.

• Water Play: Float leaves, petals, or gumnuts in a shallow puddle or tray of water. 

Simple Activities

• Nature Walks (Carrier/Stroller): Point out colors, textures (fuzzy moss), and sounds while carrying a baby.

• Nature Collage: Place leaves/petals between clear contact paper and seal for a sensory art piece.

• Mud Kitchen: A bucket, water, sticks, and some dirt for digging and mixing.

• Bubble Fun: Blow bubbles outdoors for them to watch and reach for. 

Safety & Supervision Tips

• Supervise Closely: Never leave babies unattended outdoors.

• Larger Items: Use big leaves, flowers, or pebbles to avoid choking hazards.

• No Tasting: Prevent tasting of unknown plants or soil (unless specifically prepared).

• Chemical-Free Zones: Stick to areas free from pesticides or harsh chemicals. 

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Outdoor Discovery & Nature Exploration

Kids are natural explorers, and the outdoors is full of things to see, hear, and touch. These simple activities encourage curiosity, spark imagination, and help kids foster a love of nature.

Playing in nature improves coordination, balance, and gross motor skills.

As children interact with different outdoor natural resources like fallen logs, rocks, and mud, it gives them opportunities to strengthen their coordination, balance, and gross motor skills. This is different from unnatural materials because they are more predictable. 

Ideas for nature play in the early years

I have found that having a safe outdoor space for the little ones to go out without me right there with them, but within my sight/ hearing range, is essential. It doesn’t have to be fancy or large, but somewhere safe that they can get that unstructured play in while I finish the dishes or read aloud to my older children has been perfect. 

Most can happen in your own backyard, and some you may need to find a different location to explore. 

• Make mud pies: Give them some empty pie pans and encourage them to find small stones, sticks, and other natural elements to decorate their pies.

• Find pictures in the clouds: Lay back on the grass and try to spot figures in the clouds.

• Pick flowers and weeds: Give your child a little cup or vase and ask them to make you a bouquet of anything they find delightful to display on your table or windowsill.

• Go on a (no touch) bug hunt: Go on a hunt to find all sorts of crawly creatures under logs or on tree trunks. We love using this little bug catcher to observe our findings for a few hours.

• Balance on fallen logs: This is such a great activity for balance and coordination. It’s even more fun to throw a log over a small stream or creek and walk across.

• Make a stick fort: Lean long sticks up against a tree or in a tee-tee shape and you have a fort to play in for hours! We have been known to make and keep these up for weeks in our own forest beyond our home and in forests all around our area. It’s especially fun to go back to a favorite location and visit your fort later.

• Go on an easy nature scavenger hunt: Make a list of familiar items that would be easily found and have your children go on a hunt!

• Play in a mud kitchen: Our #1 favorite backyard structure is our mud kitchen. Add some old pots, pans, and utensils. My kids especially love having a muffin pan to make all sorts of treats.

• Touch trees: Touching trees gently is a great way to help babies feel safe in the forest and helps them see that not all trees are the same. A lot of animals live in or depend on trees for food and for shelter or safety from larger preying animals. So they are full of wildlife with lots of colors.

• “Wash” things with water: A simple bucket of water and a sponge goes a long way! My kids also love spraying trees or the mud kitchen with water-filled spray bottles and scrubbing them down. They also enjoy washing rocks, acorns, and other natural elements with an old toothbrush.

• Balance rocks: Make a tower by balancing rocks. This is easiest with smooth stones and stacking largest to smallest.

• Listen and watch for birds: We love looking up into the trees and looking for and identifying various birds in our backyard. Looking for nests is also a fun activity. Use a field guide to help you identify what the common birds are in your area.

• Build sand or dirt castles: We have a sandbox that gets hours of play each day, but even if you only have dirt- your children can build castles and decorate them with rocks, shells, or whatever they can find.

• Make leaf rubbings or imprints: Find some flat leaves and do a rubbing by laying the leaves on a flat surface, covering with white paper, and coloring on top of them lightly with crayon.

• Dig for worms: Kids love hunting for worms and watching them wiggle. Make a wormery to observe them for a longer period of time.

• Gather leaves and jump into them: Whether your children have a little rake or not, they can gather leaves and have all sorts of fun jumping, rolling and throwing them all about.

• Grow and care for garden plants: Plant some simple herbs or go as involved as a huge garden and involve your child in the watering, weeding, and harvesting.

• Go on a nature walk: Go with a completely open plan or something specific to hunt for. Some of our favorites are an animal track hunt, birds, or collecting a specific element of nature like pine cones or seeds.

• Collect and sort natural elements: This is an excellent learning opportunity for young ones. Collect a variety of natural elements and then sort them by size, color, or shape.

• Make leaf glitter: Collect fallen leaves and use scissors to cut or fingers to rip them up into little pieces to create leaf glitter or confetti. Use it to throw in the air for fun or for a craft project.

• “Paint” with mud: Give your children an old paintbrush and a bucket of mud to paint trees, logs, or anything else they can find.

• Go on a senses hunt: On a nature walk or in the backyard, tune your children’s senses in to discover the natural world around them. We like to draw what we see, hear, smell, feel, and if we’re lucky enough to find something edible- taste!

• Build a nest: Use grass, mud, and leaves to make a bird’s nest. Leave it in a tree and watch it over time to see if any feathered friends enjoy it.

• Hide and find treasures in fields or woods: Give your child little gems or encourage them to hunt for acorns or something else to hide for you or another child to find!

These ideas only brush the surface of the ways children can play in the great outdoors. I hope this list inspires you to give your children the gift of a life lived outside! 

Outside Activities For Fun On The Go Exploration

Let’s get the kids outside to play!

Getting kids outside is a simple way to support their growth and development. Running, jumping, climbing, and playing in nature strengthen their muscles and motor skills while giving them space to be curious and creative. 

Outdoor play isn’t just great for movement; it also encourages problem-solving and social skills. Whether in the backyard, at the park, or on a nature walk, these simple activities provide kids with opportunities to play, grow, and learn!

We know finding time for outdoor activities can be challenging. That’s why we’ve put together this list of easy activities to keep your little ones engaged. 

Let’s get started, there’s always something waiting to be discovered!

For some fun outside activities, just head to the backyard or park!

Dandelion Wishes

Find dandelions that have gone to seed. Show your child how to blow the seeds into the air while making a wish. Watch together as the seeds float away and talk about where they might land.

Listening to Nature Sounds

Sit quietly outside with your child and listen to the sounds around you. Do they hear birds chirping, leaves rustling, or maybe even a distant dog barking? Try closing your eyes to focus even more on the different sounds.

Nature Walks

Go on a walk with your child and look for things in nature to collect. Consider taking a nature book (from home or the library) to help identify items found along the way. If you have a set of compact wooden nesting blocks with magnification, bring them along.

Pro tip: Save all their treasures to create a nature tray or the outdoor arts & crafts project below.

Outdoor Activity Cards

These are ideal for solving the dreaded “I’m Bored!” Create individual cards with fun, simple outdoor activities your child can complete when they can’t think of anything to do – for example:

• Read a book in a hammock.

• Play a board game under a tree.

• Catch raindrops on your tongue.

• Jump in the puddles.

• Make a maze with sticks or rocks.

• Play hopscotch.

• Fly a kite.

• Blow bubbles.

Sensory Walk

Take off your shoes and walk barefoot on different surfaces, such as grass, dirt, sand, or smooth stones. Encourage your child to describe how each one feels. Are they soft, rough, cool, or warm? This helps build body awareness and strengthens the child’s sense of touch.

Stargazing Adventure

Head outside on a clear night to gaze at the stars and create memories. See if your child can spot bright stars or patterns in the sky. Use a star chart or an app to find constellations together.

Mud & Water Play

Scooping, mixing, and splashing are what make water play so much fun. These activities allow little ones to explore different textures, develop fine motor skills, and enjoy hands-on, messy learning. 

Playing outside might mean the kids get dirty, but a little dirt never hurts, so encourage them to dig a hole, make mud pies, or find worms and bugs. 

Pro tip: To make clean-up fun, let them run through the sprinklers!

Float or Sink Items

Gather leaves, sticks, pinecones, and small rocks, then drop them into a tub of water to see which ones float or sink. Encourage your child to make guesses before testing each item. It’s a simple way to explore science through play!

Jump in Puddles

Let your kids stomp, splash, and jump in puddles after a rainy day (or with some help from the hose). This activity builds coordination and balance while allowing kids to explore cause and effect in a fun, hands-on way.

Scoop and Pour Water Play

Set up a water bin with cups, bowls, strainers, basters, and spoons. Then, let your child scoop, pour, and transfer water from one container to another. This simple activity strengthens fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, keeping kids engaged for hours.

Water Paint the Fence, Sidewalk, or Driveway with Water
So easy! All you need is a bucket of water and a paintbrush. Then, let them “paint” the fence, driveway, or sidewalk. They’ll love watching their marks disappear as the water dries, and it’s a mess-free way to practice brush strokes and creativity.

Movement & Gross Motor Activities

Running, jumping, and balancing help children build strength and coordination. These activities encourage movement and allow children to practice big-body skills outside.

For more outdoor activity ideas, try these gross motor activities. Remember, outdoor play is beneficial to adults, too! So join the fun.

Balance Beam (or Log) Walk

Lay down a wooden beam or a sturdy log and invite your child to walk across without falling off. This simple challenge strengthens coordination, concentration, and core strength.

Blow Bubbles for or with your older baby

Bubbles are a childhood classic. Every year, we included them in the kids’ Easter baskets when they were growing up. Children can dip a bubble wand and watch the bubbles float away.

They can also try catching them, popping them with different body parts, or seeing how far they can travel. This is a fun way to engage in outdoor play.

Fly a kite for them to watch or make a hand kite with ribbons

Pick a breezy day and take a kite to an open space. Let your child run while holding the kite string, and watch it lift into the sky. This is a fun way to explore the wind.

Hula Hoop Fun

Try rolling it on the ground, or jumping in and out. Hula hoops are also a great way to get kids moving and build coordination. Or use it as a target to throw natural bits into as a contest.

Pinecone Toss

Set up buckets or chalk-drawn circles as targets, and have kids toss pinecones to see if they can land inside. This fun game helps kids practice aiming and coordination using natural materials.

Pro tip: If pinecones aren’t available, use small balls, rolled-up socks, water balloons, or other round items.

Roll Down a Hill

Here is one to enjoy the outdoors without any preparation or supplies. Find a safe, grassy hill and let your child roll down. Let them feel the motion and laughter that comes with it.

Pro tip: If you have older kids, let them try a piece of cardboard to slide down the hill for a thrill ride.

Stack or play with rocks like they were building blocks

For a variation on block play, use rocks instead of wooden blocks. Collect different-sized rocks and see how many or how high your child can stack them before they fall over. This hands-on activity builds patience, fine motor skills, and an understanding of balance.

While this list of outdoor activities is just a sampling of all the fun things to do outside, we are sure you will find plenty to do.

Outdoor Fun

Being outside sparks your child’s curiosity as they climb trees, pick flowers, toss rocks, splash in streams, and look for animals. 

Part of the fun is using cool tools for exploring. Things like:

• Bug catchers

• Butterfly nets

• Magnifying glass

• Kids-size binoculars

• Flashlight

• A backpack or a vest to carry everything

• Child-safe digital camera for recording their findings (if age-appropriate)

Magnification blocks:

• Are perfect for examining natural, tactile, and other detailed materials found in nature.

• Encourage exploration of the small wonders of nature. With their unbreakable acrylic inset windows, your child can investigate their surroundings.

• 
  Wooden Square Blocks – Magnification Blocks

• Unlike traditional magnifying glasses, this wooden block set is safe and sturdy for all your preschoolers’ fun outdoor activities.

These wooden blocks for kids will help you introduce your preschooler to science, inspire them to examine nature up close, and allow them to display their special nature trinkets.

It Is Time To Get Outside And Play. Let’s Go!

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