So, while they may be little scientists for a few hours of the day, they can also likely learn the alphabet in a more rote way, he suggested.
But parents can nurture their child's natural inquisitiveness by providing spontaneous play opportunities whenever possible, he added.
Gopnik echoed that sentiment. "Look at what your children are interested in. They can learn a lot about the world by putting mixing bowls together, or playing with sand, or through pretend play," she said. "Join in with them when you can. And, answer children's questions and provide explanations, but also ask children why they think something happened. That's a good way to trigger their scientific minds."
More information
Read more about how children learn through play from the Nemours Foundation.
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