So, don't be surprised if your child is just as intrigued by watching the window washers or climbing the pirate ship stairs as he or she is with the exhibits. Very young children learn continuously, and all these experiences are meaningful. They figure out what their bodies can do and how to maneuver through their world. By actively exploring objects, manipulating them with their hands and twirling, pounding and turning, children experiment with concepts like weight and volume, shape, height, number and color. They also gain much needed fine motor skills and the ability to track objects visually and coordinate eye and hand movements.
Children are natural explorers.
Instinctively, they touch, taste, hear and look at whatever is around them. Developing the ability to recognize the similarities and differences in sensory information enables them to begin associating particular sensory characteristics with certain things. Ultimately, this understanding adds order and meaning to many of their experiences. Through fantasy play, children actively explore the different qualities of people in their lives. By role-playing a firefighter or a dancer, the child stretches his or her imagination to gain familiarity with the larger world.