5 Simple Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Children are natural scientists. They observe, hypothesize, experiment, and draw conclusions — all day long! "Why is the sky blue?" "What happens if I mix these together?" "Where do puddles go?" These questions are the foundation of scientific thinking.

Here are five simple, safe experiments you can do at home to nurture your child's curiosity and love of learning. Each uses common household items and takes less than 15 minutes.

1. Rainbow Walking Water: Place three cups in a row. Fill the outer two with water and add red food coloring to one and blue to the other. Fold paper towels into strips connecting the cups. Watch as the colored water "walks" up the paper towels and mixes in the middle cup to create purple!

2. Sink or Float: Fill a tub with water and gather various objects — a cork, a rock, a plastic toy, a coin. Have your child predict whether each will sink or float, then test it! This builds hypothesis-testing skills and introduces basic physics concepts.

3. Baking Soda Volcano: Build a small volcano from clay or playdough. Add a spoonful of baking soda, a squirt of dish soap, and a few drops of red food coloring. Pour in vinegar and watch it erupt! This classic experiment never fails to delight.

4. Magnetic Treasure Hunt: Give your child a magnet and let them explore the house, testing which objects are magnetic. Sort the findings into "magnetic" and "not magnetic" piles. This introduces the concept of properties and classification.

5. Seed Sprouting: Place a damp paper towel and a few dried beans in a clear zip-top bag. Tape it to a sunny window and check daily. Your child will be thrilled to watch roots and shoots emerge over the course of a week — a perfect introduction to plant biology!