This area of learning and development covers how children learn about the natural, physical and technological worlds around them. Helping your child to learn about the world. There are lots of easy ways you can help your child to learn more about the world. You could use the ideas below as starting points to help you do this.

Two- to three-year-olds

• Children of this age are very eager to explore the world around them by being curious about what they see, hear, and touch, and by asking questions. It is important that parents encourage this curiosity.
• When your child discovers things of interest try to explain the science behind their discoveries – for example, look into a soup spoon and notice the different reflections in the concave and convex sides of the spoon.
• If your child enjoys drawing and mark making, you could provide paper and crayons or a pencil for your child to draw what they have found out.
• Find some dandelion seed heads and blow the dandelion clocks for your child to watch, catch, and blow by themselves.
• Give your child a small ‘collector’s bag’ to carry any treasures you find when you go out for a walk, and talk to them about it.
• On a sunny day, in winter as well summer, go on a shadow hunt with your child – look at the shapes, sizes and positions of the shadows. Try to catch your shadow.
• When you are buying presents for your child, think about buying a wooden framed magnifying glass, a large horseshoe magnet or a bug collecting pot.

Four- to five-year-olds

• By the time your child is four or five they will have developed interests and fascinations which you could support to encourage their learning across all areas of learning and development.
• Listen carefully to what your child has to say when they discover something of interest; try challenging them to explain their ideas to you as this will help them to develop their thinking skills.
• When you choose presents for your child, think about buying things which will develop their science skills – choose toys and games which show mechanisms and how things work, how living things and objects move and the effects of magnetism, light, electricity and sound.
• Try making a wildlife area in your garden or patio area to provide food, shelter, and a breeding ground for birds, snails, spiders, insects, and small invertebrates. Your child can then discover how a variety of things live and behave.
• After it has rained, investigate puddles near your home – look for reflections and watch how the puddles shrink as the water evaporates. You could also have fun splashing in the puddles!
• Help your child to plant a variety of seeds – flowers and vegetables – in your garden, hanging basket or window box. You can make growing beds using an old tyre, bucket, watering can, or wheelbarrow.
• You can grow cress in an indoor planter using half an egg shell. Paint a face on the egg shell, fill it with fine soil or seed compost, and sprinkle cress seeds into the shell. In a few days you will be able to watch the ‘hair’ grow and then enjoy eating the cress.