Here is how toddlers explore:
Toddlers actively engage with their environment using their senses and physical abilities to learn about the world around them.
Exploration for toddlers is a fundamental part of their learning process. As the reference states, "The learning will come." This discovery happens through direct interaction with their surroundings.
Exploring with the Senses
Toddlers primarily rely on their five senses to gather information. They use all available sensory input to understand properties, textures, sounds, sights, and even tastes (when appropriate).
According to the reference:
- They look and listen to observe what is happening around them.
- They touch what they can reach to understand texture, shape, and form.
- They smell the fresh scents of nature, engaging their olfactory sense.
- They occasionally taste when given permission, exploring different flavors and properties of objects or food safely.
Exploring Through Movement
Beyond sensory input, physical movement is crucial for toddlers to discover new places and understand their capabilities within that space. Their exploration is often very active.
As highlighted in the reference, they engage in various physical activities:
- They run to cover ground and experience speed.
- They jump to explore height and impact.
- They dig to investigate what is beneath the surface.
- They climb to explore vertical space and gain new perspectives.
Through this combination of sensory engagement and physical activity, toddlers build their understanding of their environment and how they fit into it.
