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Science Matters
A short extract from an article which appeared in the Science Matters section of Early Years Educator Magazine, February 2005.
Young children as researchers
Viewing children as researchers implies an awareness that children have their own ideas about how things work and why things happen - they are 'bubbling with ideas'. These ideas or theories are based on all their many different early experiences as babies and young children. Valuing these ideas, encouraging children to share them, and to listen to the ideas put forward by other children, provides the starting point for on-going investigations, explorations and discoveries.
Encouraging curiosity, creativity and communication
Children's curiosity about the world around them is apparent from the moment they are born. Babies use all their senses to explore their surroundings in their efforts to make sense of the world. Even before they can talk they are clearly investigating, asking questions, solving problems and making choices as they play, eat, and interact with those around them. As early years practitioners you will want to support and reinforce this innate curiosity to give children the confidence to develop their own theories about the world and how it works.
You can do this by encouraging children to talk about their ideas, and by listening carefully to what they say. This helps them to develop their creative and critical thinking skills and provides many opportunities for you to extend their vocabulary. Young children are fascinated by words, and helping them to use the correct 'scientific' words to describe their ideas and discoveries will build both their knowledge and self confidence. To do this you need to be confident in your own understanding of scientific and technological terminology.
