Even toddlers have the capacity and desire to learn science, and the following science experiments for 2 to 3 year olds help you do just that! These fun science activities for toddlers provide opportunity to explore the natural world, learn through sensory play, observe simple chemical reactions and much more!
EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR TODDLERS
SCIENCE FOR 2 YEAR OLDS
Two to three year olds will enjoy these easy science experiments that don’t require much prep, planning, or supplies. The simpler you keep it, the more fun your little scientist will have exploring!
For more easy science projects for younger kiddos, check out…
WHAT IS SCIENCE FOR TWO YEAR OLDS?
Many of these toddler science activities below will seem more like play than learning. Truly, the best way to teach your two year old science is through play!
Encourage them to use their senses whenever possible! Make observations with the 5 senses including sight, sound, touch, smell, and sometimes even taste.
Have lots of conversation with your toddler and ask questions throughout the process. Acknowledge what they have to say about the activity and try not to overcomplicate the conversation.
Ask open-ended questions without telling them what to say.
- What does it feel like? (Help name some different textures)
- What do you see happening? (Colors, bubbles, swirls, etc)
- Do you think it will…?
- What would happen if…?
This is a great introduction to the scientific method for kids!
HOW TO CHOOSE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR TWO YEAR OLD?
Choose a simple science activity to fit the day! Maybe you need something very playful with lots of moving around. Or maybe you want to make a snack or bake together.
Maybe the day calls for setting up a science activity you can look at over several days, and talk about together.
When introducing science to young kids, adjusting your expectations is essential…
First, keep it quick and basic with as few ingredients and steps as possible.
Second, prep some of the materials beforehand and call your kiddo over when you are ready, so they don’t have to wait and potentially lose interest.
Third, let them explore without too much guidance. When they’re done, they’re done, even if it’s five minutes. Just keep it fun!
SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS
I will share my favorite science experiments for toddlers below! Plus, I’ve grouped them into different sections: Playful, Make Together, and Observe. Pick one based on what the day feels like to you.
You’ll also find a link to even more preschool science experiments here if you’re kiddo is soaking up all the science and learning!
PLAYFUL SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
Bubble Play
Bubbles are science! Make a batch of homemade bubble mixture and having fun playing with bubbles. Or even try one of our fun bubble experiments!
Chick Pea Foam
Foamy fun! Make up some taste safe sensory play foam with ingredients you probably already have in the kitchen.
Frozen Dinosaur Eggs
Ice melting is so much fun for kids and these frozen dinosaur eggs are perfect for your dinosaur loving toddler.
Frozen Flowers
A fun 3 in 1 flower activity for little ones, including a flower ice melt and water sensory bin.
Fizzing Dinosaur Eggs
Make up some baking soda dinosaur eggs that kids will love hatching out with a simple chemical reaction.
Fizzing Sidewalk Paint
Get outdoors, paint pictures, and enjoy a kid-favorite fizzing chemical reaction.
Marshmallow Slime
One of our most popular edible slime recipes. Playful sensory science that’s ok for kids to take a nibble or two of.
Moon Sand
Make up a fun space theme sensory bin with homemade moon sand or space sand as we like to call it.
Ocean Sensory Bin
Set up a simple ocean sensory bin that is science too!
Oobleck
Just two ingredients, cornstarch and water, makes for an amazing play experience. Great for talking about liquids and solids!
Rainbow In A Bag
Introduce the colors of the rainbow with this fun mess free rainbow in a bag painting idea.
Ramps
Set up some simple ramps for playful science. See how we used it for our Easter egg races and also pumpkin rolling.
Sink or Float
Grab some toys or other items from around the house, and find out what sinks or floats in water.
Volcanoes
There are so many fun ways to put together a baking soda and vinegar erupting volcano. Try a Lego volcano, watermelon volcano and even a sandbox volcano!
Water Xylophone
Kids love to make noises and sounds, which is all part of science. This water xylophone sound science experiment is truly a must do science activity for young kids.
What Absorbs
Water activities are so easy to set up and perfect for young kids to play and learn with science. Learn about absorption as you investigate what materials absorb water.
SCIENCE YOU CAN MAKE
Edible Butterfly
Keep it simple and use candy to make an edible butterfly, one part of the lifecycle. You could also do this with homemade playdough.
Nature Paint Brushes
You will need to help with this one! But what you can find in nature that you can turn into paint brushes?
Nature Sensory Bottles
Go for a walk around your backyard to collect things from nature for these simple sensory bottles.
Popcorn
Turn corn kernels into yummy homemade popcorn with our easy popcorn in a bag recipe.
What’s Magnetic?
Make up your own magnet sensory bottle from items around the house and explore what is magnetic and what isn’t. You could also set up a magnet discovery table!
SCIENCE ACTIVITIES TO OBSERVE
Apple 5 Senses
Set up a simple version of our apple 5 senses activity. Cut up some different types of apples and notice the color of the apple, what it smells like and which one tastes the best.
Celery Food Coloring Experiment
Add a stalk of celery to water with food coloring and watch what happens!
Color Changing Flowers
Grab some white carnations and watch them change color.
Dancing Corn
This bubbling corn experiment appears almost magical but it really just uses baking soda and vinegar for a classic chemical reaction.
Growing Flowers
Check our list of easy flowers to grow, especially for little hands.
Lava Lamp
A homemade lava lamp experiment is one of our favorite science experiments for kids.
Magic Milk
While the science concepts may be beyond them, this science experiment for toddlers will still engage them. Simple to set up from common kitchen ingredients and fun to watch!
Re-grow Lettuce
Do you know you can grow a cut head of lettuce? This is a fun science activity to observe as your lettuce grows.
Seed Germination Experiment
Watching seeds grow is amazing science for kids! With a seed jar you can see what happens to seeds underground.
MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES
If you found your toddler loves a certain type of activity, click on the links to find lots of additional ideas.
