Science doesn’t begin in a laboratory. It begins much earlier, in the everyday moments of curiosity that show up in early childhood education.

 

It’s there when a child asks why, tests an idea, changes their mind, and tries again. When they pause, wonder, notice something unexpected, or persist with a problem just a little longer. These moments matter. They are science in action, and they are also the foundations of lifelong learning.

 

 

In early childhood settings, children engage with scientific and engineering concepts through play, often without anyone needing to label it as “science”. They explore movement, force and friction as they build ramps, push wheelbarrows, or experiment with different surfaces. They investigate cause and effect when they mix, pour, freeze, melt and combine materials. They practise early problem-solving, systems thinking and design when they build with blocks, tinker with loose parts, or explore simple coding and robotics experiences.

These experiences are woven through everyday practice, shaped by teaching teams who notice, respond, and extend children’s thinking in intentional and relational ways.

 

 

A key role teachers and educators play is helping children recognise themselves as capable learners. By naming the thinking we see, celebrating effort, and valuing questions as much as answers, we help children build confidence in their own curiosity.

Days like the International Day of Women and Girls in Science invite us to pause and reflect on whose learning is seen, named and encouraged. They remind us that science belongs to all children, and that girls’ questions, ideas and ways of making sense of the world, matter. When children see themselves reflected as thinkers, problem-solvers and investigators, their sense of possibility grows.

 

 

Curiosity thrives in environments where children feel safe, known and valued. A wholehearted welcome – one grounded in relationships with children and families – creates the conditions for exploration. When teachers and educators take time to notice, listen and learn alongside children, trust and belonging grow. And it is this sense of security that gives children the confidence to take risks, ask questions, and stretch their thinking.

 

At ECMS, fostering curiosity is part of how we support lifelong learning. It starts in early childhood, in everyday moments of play, wonder and relationship – and it continues as children grow into confident, capable learners.