Every baby is a scientist

Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist… Carl Sagan 

Have you ever heard someone say, all babies are scientists and wondered what that really means? 

Children learn through play, right from their first weeks of life. When children play, they build physical, social and emotional skills, while discovering important details about others and the world around them.  

But what is play and why is it important for a child’s developing brain? 

Play isn’t just mucking around, making lots of noise… and a mess. It is so much more.  

Play is the thrill of uncertainty and the discovery of something new. In fact, play is one of the only human activities where uncertainty is both celebrated and essential. Not knowing what will happen is what makes play fun, but, importantly, play is also adaptable and cooperative. It’s how we socially bond, how we learn to solve complex problems. It is also intrinsically motivated, meaning play is its own reward.  

If you add rules to play, you have a game. That’s what an experiment is.  

Young children are ideal scientists. They question everything, they experiment and learn from those experiments, and children are virtually unbiased towards any particular result because play is about uncertainty and discovery.  

So, as caregivers, what can we do to expose our little scientists to rich environments where exciting play can happen?  

First 5 Forever creates opportunities for families to build their child’s brains and bodies through free, fun, playful experiences at their local library and supports parents and caregivers to find resources that support them, as the most important person in their child’s life.   

If you are in Brisbane on March 16 and 17, you can also bring your little scientist to The Corner at State Library for a special science take-over in partnership with Children’s Discovery as part of the World Science Festival. Drop in anytime to participate in playful experiments, or at 10 am and 1 pm for science storytime.  

For more information about how you can support your child’s health and wellbeing through play attend a First 5 Forever session at your local library and chat with the First 5 Forever staff.  Your little scientist is never too young to be a member of your local library. You can sign them up from birth and start talking, reading, singing, playing… and experimenting! 

Some books for your little scientist: 

Your Brilliant Brain written and illustrated by Philip Bunting (2024) 

The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia’s First Peoples written by Corey Tutt and illustrated by Blak Douglas (2021) 

Ada Twist, Scientist written by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts (2016)  

The Most Magnificent Thing written and illustrated by Ashley Spires (2013)