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Playful Science for Kids

Modified: Mar 18, 2025 · Published: Jul 11, 2021 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Playful Science is a brand new series full of simple science-based play ideas for kids! All the activities are super easy and can be used as part of role-play games or as an exciting addition to a classroom theme.

Play is a fantastic way to spark a lifelong love of science in kids. Imagine bubbly potions, secret maps, mini archaeological digs and solving mysteries. That’s the magic of simple, playful science.

STEM activities nurture natural curiosity, inspire questions and critical thinking, and build a foundation for understanding the wonderful world around us. Don’t worry if something goes wrong. It’s all part of the fun.

Make learning a real adventure with my playful science ideas.

Playful Science Ideas for Little Ones

Playful Science – Doctor Play

Make a stethoscope, draw around a friend and add in body parts, find out how many feet tall you are, and lots more fun doctor-themed role play ideas with fun added science!

Make a Stethoscope

What’s Inside?

Image of a stethoscope for an activity using a cardboard tube and funnel for a doctor themed activity.

How many feet tall?

Image of a ruler and footprints for a science activity to work out how many feet tall a person is.

Image of a child lying on the floor ready to be drawn around for a playful science experiment about the inside of the body

Playful Science – Detective Play

Pretend to be a detective with these simple science activities. Use a plastic bottle to make a magnifying glass, look at your own fingerprints and read invisible messages!

Investigating Fingerprints

Make a Magnifying Glass

fingerprints for a fun fingerprint science activity

cartoon magnifying glass for an activity making a mganifying glass

Invisible Ink Challenge

Invisible Ink STEM Challenge

Be a Palaeontologist

Find out how fossils form with air-drying clay and be a palaeontologist for a day with a DIY dinosaur dig activity.

Image of a fossil of a dinosaur in clay and a real dinosaur fossil for learning about fossils.

Perilous Pirate Activities

Crack codes, hide treasure and design, test and sink pirate boats. These swashbuckling activities are great for little people everywhere.

Image of a pirate treasure chest for a crack the code pirate playful science activity

cork boat and a foil boat for a pirate science activity

Boats made from corks and washing up sponges for a pirate activity.

Image of coins in bubble water for a pirate science experiment

Density bottle made with blue water and oil

Superhero Science

Help a Superhero float, make a flowing cape, trap a superhero in Oobleck and more exciting Superhero Science!

toy superhero figure on a float made from pool noodles.

superhero figures in oobleck for a superhero slime experiment

Superhero cartoon images for a superhero science activity

If you liked these ideas you’ll love my FREE Early Years Science eBook with TWENTY simple science experiments for little ones.

I also have some great ideas for science experiments on a budget that would work well for younger children.

Playful Science Ideas for Kids

Last Updated on March 18, 2025 by Emma Vanstone

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Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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