❄️ Winter Science & Perseverance in Action
Helping Kids Explore, Wonder, and Keep Trying
Winter has a way of slowing things down, and that’s not a bad thing, especially for young learners.
In early childhood and elementary spaces, winter gives us a chance to lean into learning that feels calm, hands-on, and meaningful. It’s a season that naturally invites curiosity, observation, and patience. This week at Kidz Exec Excellence, we’re focusing on two areas that work beautifully together: winter science exploration and perseverance in action.
Both help children learn not just what to think, but how to approach learning with confidence and curiosity.
🧊 Winter Science: Melting Ice & Curious Minds
Science learning does not have to be complicated to be powerful.
Some of the richest learning experiences happen when children are given simple materials and the freedom to observe, question, and explore. Melting ice is one of those experiences. A bowl of ice, a warm room, or a sunny window can spark meaningful conversations and deep thinking.
When children explore melting ice, they are naturally practicing early science skills such as observing change, making predictions, testing ideas, and describing what they notice. These are foundational science practices supported by research on inquiry-based learning (National Research Council, 2012).
More importantly, children learn that learning doesn’t always happen instantly. Sometimes it happens slowly, drop by drop, and that’s okay.
Developmentally appropriate practice reminds us that young children learn best through hands-on, meaningful experiences that are connected to their world (NAEYC, 2020). When children are given space to wonder without pressure to be right, curiosity grows.
Curiosity doesn’t need fancy materials.
It needs time, space, and thoughtful adults.
💪 Simple Ways to Encourage Perseverance in Kids
As children explore, they may also feel frustrated, unsure, or eager for answers. These moments are where perseverance begins.
Perseverance isn’t about pushing children harder or expecting them to “stick it out.” It develops when adults create supportive environments where effort is valued and mistakes are part of the process. Research shows that children build resilience when adults normalize challenges, encourage effort, and offer guidance without taking over (Dweck, 2006; Center on the Developing Child, 2016).
Simple ways adults can support perseverance include:
Naming effort instead of outcomes
Letting children try again without rushing
Modeling patience and calm responses
Celebrating progress, not perfection
When children feel safe to struggle, they learn that challenges are temporary and that their effort matters. Over time, these small moments build confidence and persistence, skills that support learning across all areas (Duckworth et al., 2007).
🌱 Why Winter Science and Perseverance Go Together
Science exploration and perseverance naturally go hand in hand.
When a child watches ice melt, they may wonder why it’s taking so long. They may predict what will happen next, feel disappointed when it doesn’t melt right away, or change their strategy. These moments are not interruptions to learning, they are the learning.
By pairing hands-on exploration with encouragement, adults help children understand that:
Learning takes time
Questions are valuable
Trying again is part of growth
This combination builds both thinking skills and emotional resilience, laying the foundation for lifelong learning.
✨ A Note for Educators and Families
Supporting curiosity and perseverance doesn’t require perfection or elaborate planning. It requires presence, patience, and intentional encouragement.
A bowl of ice.
A thoughtful question.
A calm response.
These small moments matter.
Explore free learning resources and printable activities at:
👉 kidzexec.com
📚 References
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). (2020).
Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in early childhood programs.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/position-statements/dap
National Research Council. (2012).
A framework for K–12 science education: Practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas.
Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2016).
Building core capabilities for life: The science behind the skills adults need to succeed.
https://developingchild.harvard.edu
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007).
Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–1101.
Dweck, C. S. (2006).
Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York, NY: Random House.
