Babies

Yes, you really can do science with babies.  Babies are working on two basic science skills, Observing and Predicting.

Observation uses the 5 senses, sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.  Babies are not born with a full working set, they develop over the first year.  This is not a bad design – it is actually protective, so they don’t have to deal with the full confusing world before they are ready.  At first, they are tightly focused on what will keep them alive – being close to their mother and food.  As they gain more control over their bodies their senses also start to reach out so they can explore.

Prediction sounds like a strange one to say they are focusing on, what can a baby predict?  But it is one of the first things they start to play with.  Hey! I wonder if gravity still works?  It worked in the cot, does it work over here too?  If I hit this saucepan, will I get a cool sound?  They’re not making you pick up that teddy for fun you know, it’s a scientific experiment.

Questions to ask your baby

• “What can you see/hear/smell/feel?”
• “What happened?”