Children are natural scientists and spend their first few years trying to learn as much as possible about their worlds. Because children are so curious, it’s easy to engage their imaginations with simple science experiments parents can try at home. To help you get started on a science learning adventure with your child, we’ve rounded up ways to get going with ideas for hands-on easy science experiments for kids.
Easy science experiment using salt
Beaker Creatures Float Away is a quick activity that uses salt water to show buoyancy. Download this activity sheet here, and then head to the kitchen.
To try this, you’ll need:
Cup
Egg
Water
Salt
Do this experiment:
Fill the cup ¾ with water. Do you think the egg will sink or float? Gently place the egg in the water and watch what happens!
Remove the egg from the water. Add 3 tablespoons of salt and stir.
Let’s try it again – place the egg in the salt water. Why do you think the egg floated this time?
Adding salt to the water increases its buoyancy. This means that objects can now float on the water. Wow!
This activity sheet also includes a second experiment to grow a salt crystal. Visit our Home Learning hub to download this free activity sheet and find other Beaker Creatures ideas such as…
Build an extendable grabber using craft sticks and straws, and whizz up ice cream using salt and ice to chill it.
Create a wobbly lava lamp-like experiment using oil and water, and make a density stack using water, oil, and golden syrup.
Make a mystery goo, and create a marvellous nebula using food colouring.
Create a snow home using edible glitter and make bubbles.
Watch TheDadLab do it (and more)
TheDadLab is a YouTube channel with loads of science experiments for kids. These range from easy activities using ingredients you have at home, to more complex science fun for older children. In this video, he shows some ideas on how to explore density, and does his own version of the salt-egg buoyancy experiment.
Find more family science fun
From chemistry to life sciences, there are so many aspects to science that you’re sure to find a field that will interest your child. Here are some tips to get going…
Head out and explore because science is everywhere. From bug hunting to cloud-watching, your outdoor space offers so many opportunities to learn. Prompt your child to observe and question their surroundings by discussing what they’ve seen.
Consider your child’s personal interests because the more they’re interested, the more they’ll engage with learning. For example, introduce chemistry using our science experiments sheets packed with activities you can do you using ingredients you have at home. Science Sparks is a site with loads of fun science experiments for kids and has a simple activity here to get you started.
Start as early as possible, since children build on what they know, and their early interests influence their interests later in life. Even everyday activities such as baking offer maths and science learning opportunities.
Depending on your child’s interests, invest in some science toys and equipment. Our Primary Science range for ages 3+ is an ideal starting point and is designed to be realistic, child-friendly science equipment ready for hands-on learning. Our GeoSafari and GeoSafari Jr. ranges actively encourage outdoor exploration and play. From telescopes to microscopes, these are real working scientific tools can go with your child on any learning adventure. Beaker Creatures is where wacky science meets cool collectables and is ideal for children aged 5-10.
Looking for more ideas? Read our guide on our best science toys for 4 year olds, and for older children, check out our selection the best science toys and playsets for 8 year olds.
When you consider the skills children develop through doing fun science experiments for kids, it’s easy to see why hands-on science learning is so important. Science uses observation and data to understand the world and encourages children to listen, observe, test, evaluate and think critically. These are valuable life skills that support lifelong love of learning.
What is STEM? Emma Vanstone, the creator of Science Sparks and author of several books packed with fun science experiments for children, explores what is STEM, with easy ideas on STEM learning at home.
Educational toys can provide children with opportunities to use their vocabulary and discover new words. Imaginative play tools such as puppets help young learners to express themselves, ask questions and practice the art of conversation.Educational board games are a great way to help children make sense of social constructs such as following rules, listening to others, asking questions, winning and losing. Family games also help children to play co-operatively and, by actively listening, they will begin to take account of other people’s ideas and feelings.
2) Physical Development
Toys that aid physical development help children to be active and develop their co-ordination, control and movement. Fine motor skills refers to small movements such as gripping object and uses the small muscles of the fingers, toes, wrists, lips and tongue. Resources such as Jumbo Tweezers and Handy Scoopers™ help to strengthen these muscles and prepare children for tasks that will increase their independence, such as holding a pen or dressing themselves.Gross motor skills refers to the movement and co-ordination of larger body parts such as the arms and legs. Active play is a great way to develop gross motor skills through actions such as running, walking, jumping and crawling. Toys that encourage movement such as Pancake Pile-Up!™ and Math Marks the Spot™ help to promote physical activity alongside learning essential core skills.
3) Personal, Social and Emotional Awareness
Toys such as Mirror Boards and Puppets help children to build self confidence and form relationships. Children can use these tools to initiate conversations that help them to manage their feelings and sharpen observation skills. Through play, children become familiar with social constructs such as turn-taking, helping them to form relationships and develop respect for others.
Children discover the world through their senses. Toys that promote tactile awareness and sensory exploration help young learners to make sense of the physical world around them.  By combining sensory awareness and scientific discovery with exploration toys such as magnifiers, projectors and microscopes children can satisfy their natural curiosity in the physical world.
5) Creativity and Imagination
Play is a full time job that is fuelled by creativity and imagination. Imaginative play resources encourage children to draw on first-hand experiences in pretend play scenarios, helping them to make sense of day to day life. By the age of three, children are able to absorb themselves in make-believe and will often start to create elaborate story lines. This type of play is important as it helps young learners to build confidence, perseverance and self esteem.
Starting school is an important chapter in a child’s life and educational toys help them to develop basic early skills to prepare them for their new adventure! By playing with toys that help with pre-writing, speech language and communication, confidence, numbers and early phonics, young learners will have the head-start they need to shine at ‘big’ school.Learn more in our ‘School Readiness’ blog post.
7) Outdoor Exploration
Outdoor learning and active play are an essential part of a child’s development, building a variety of key skills including confidence, social skills and well-being whilst experiencing the wonders of the world around them. Hands-on tools such as Kidnoculars® and Jumbo Magnifiers encourage children to get up-close to nature, helping them to understand the world around them.
STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. STEM toys encourage children to solve real-world problems through enquiry-based problem-solving, hands-on experimentation, trial and error, and self-discovery. Challenges follow the Engineering Design Process (ask, imagine, plan, create, improve) and can pose challenges such as building simple machines or programming a Robot Mouse.
9) Core Skills
Learning Resources’ toys are designed in-line with the National Curriculum for England and help to support core skills across Literacy, Maths, Science and Geography. Through exciting game play and engaging activities, children will improve essential skills from the alphabet and phonics to fractions and measurement, without even realising they’re learning!
10) Learning is fun!
We think it’s important to keep children captivated while learning! Hands-on toys that are fun to play with, help to keep children present in the moment so that they can uncover their true potential. #LoveLearning#Givethegiftoflearning
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Children are natural scientists and spend their first few years trying to learn as much as possible about their worlds. Because children are so curious, it’s easy to engage their imaginations with simple science experiments parents can try at home. To help you get started on a science learning adventure with your child, we’ve rounded up ways to get going with ideas for hands-on easy science experiments for kids.
Easy science experiment using salt
Beaker Creatures Float Away is a quick activity that uses salt water to show buoyancy. Download this activity sheet here, and then head to the kitchen.
To try this, you’ll need:
Cup
Egg
Water
Salt
Do this experiment:
Fill the cup ¾ with water. Do you think the egg will sink or float? Gently place the egg in the water and watch what happens!
Remove the egg from the water. Add 3 tablespoons of salt and stir.
Let’s try it again – place the egg in the salt water. Why do you think the egg floated this time?
Adding salt to the water increases its buoyancy. This means that objects can now float on the water. Wow!
This activity sheet also includes a second experiment to grow a salt crystal. Visit our Home Learning hub to download this free activity sheet and find other Beaker Creatures ideas such as…
Build an extendable grabber using craft sticks and straws, and whizz up ice cream using salt and ice to chill it.
Create a wobbly lava lamp-like experiment using oil and water, and make a density stack using water, oil, and golden syrup.
Make a mystery goo, and create a marvellous nebula using food colouring.
Create a snow home using edible glitter and make bubbles.
Watch TheDadLab do it (and more)
TheDadLab is a YouTube channel with loads of science experiments for kids. These range from easy activities using ingredients you have at home, to more complex science fun for older children. In this video, he shows some ideas on how to explore density, and does his own version of the salt-egg buoyancy experiment.
Find more family science fun
From chemistry to life sciences, there are so many aspects to science that you’re sure to find a field that will interest your child. Here are some tips to get going…
Head out and explore because science is everywhere. From bug hunting to cloud-watching, your outdoor space offers so many opportunities to learn. Prompt your child to observe and question their surroundings by discussing what they’ve seen.
Consider your child’s personal interests because the more they’re interested, the more they’ll engage with learning. For example, introduce chemistry using our science experiments sheets packed with activities you can do you using ingredients you have at home. Science Sparks is a site with loads of fun science experiments for kids and has a simple activity here to get you started.
Start as early as possible, since children build on what they know, and their early interests influence their interests later in life. Even everyday activities such as baking offer maths and science learning opportunities.
Depending on your child’s interests, invest in some science toys and equipment. Our Primary Science range for ages 3+ is an ideal starting point and is designed to be realistic, child-friendly science equipment ready for hands-on learning. Our GeoSafari and GeoSafari Jr. ranges actively encourage outdoor exploration and play. From telescopes to microscopes, these are real working scientific tools can go with your child on any learning adventure. Beaker Creatures is where wacky science meets cool collectables and is ideal for children aged 5-10.
Looking for more ideas? Read our guide on our best science toys for 4 year olds, and for older children, check out our selection the best science toys and playsets for 8 year olds.
When you consider the skills children develop through doing fun science experiments for kids, it’s easy to see why hands-on science learning is so important. Science uses observation and data to understand the world and encourages children to listen, observe, test, evaluate and think critically. These are valuable life skills that support lifelong love of learning.
