Children are natural observers. They’re great at noticing differences and asking about them. Most parents have a story about the time their kid asked a stranger about a mole, pimple, or similar taboo topic.

We want to harness this power and help our kids learn how to see.

This morning, my three year olds and I went on a puddle adventure. Sticks in hand and rainboots on, we were excited to see what we would see.

Exploring takes time. You can’t rush discovery. As my girls poked, prodded, splashed, and stepped, I commented on my observations and stepped back to give them space to take it further as they saw fit.

Wow! Look at the bubbles you made!

Did you SEE how the water moved when you ____?

Look at those waves! It’s like the beach!

Oh! I see a worm. What’s he doing?

What happens when you step gently? When you stomp?

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For 45 minutes, we watched for cars, found new puddles, swished water around, rescued worms, and created splashes. It was good, and it was enough. We practiced looking at detail, cause and effect, sensory awareness, and more. And then we stopped. No lecture, no formal lesson. We just looked.

Later today we may read a book about dirt or worms, (this one (aff link**) from National Geographic is great!) or we might move on to another interest, but I am content because we stopped. We looked. We listened. And we discovered together.

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