Pushes and Pulls

Young children are constantly on the move. As they run, jump, climb and tumble, they experience motion, stability and balance with their own bodies. They also observe how toys respond to their actions and how objects, materials and living things in the world around them move. Pushes and pulls — what scientists call forces — can make things go, stop, speed up, slow down or change direction. They can also make things change shape. Two-year-olds enjoy experimenting with pushing, pulling, dropping, throwing and kicking things to see what happens. They observe how toys roll, how balls bounce and how the wind blows things around. When you provide safe spaces and lots of opportunities for your child to explore pushes and pulls, you promote their learning. When you join in, you give them the message that their explorations are important. As you investigate pushes and pulls with your two-year-old, introduce and use words — like stand and topple, slide and roll, up, down, left, right and sideways — that help them express what they are doing, noticing and thinking about. Individual children will be interested in exploring different things, so remember to follow your child’s lead!