Plants Grow from Seeds:

It may sound too simple, but a chia pet is a great way to teach your preschooler that plants come from seeds. In your chia pet package you'll get seeds to spread on your chia pet.

What Plants need to Grow:

To grow a chia pet, just like any plant, you'll need water and sunlight. Your preschooler will learn from this holiday gift that plants need water and sunlight to thrive.

Patience:

Few preschoolers have much patience. What they want, they want now. Yet plants need time to grow. Your child will learn patience as they wait the few days for your chia pet to sprout.

Plants Require Constant Care:

If not cared for with water and sunlight, a chia pet, like all plants will eventually dry up and die. Your preschooler will learn the importance of taking care of plants so they flourish.

Caring for a Plant does not Take much Time:

A chia pet, like many plants, simply requires sunlight and water to flourish. Not only are these things easy to give, but they require little time commitment or knowledge to give to a plant. From your chia pet, your preschooler will learn that at a young age, they have enough time and knowledge to care for a simple plant.

And don't negate the emotional benefits your preschooler will receive from caring for a simple plant like a chia pet. Benefits such as self-confidence that they can care for a plant and the simple happiness of watching their holiday gift grow.

Hi! I'm Theresa Halvorsen, the preschool science and nature writer for Preschoolrock.com. I have twin boys and am blown away by their fascination with preschool science and how the world works around them. I am always looking for fun and simple science activities so preschoolers can learn about science and the natural world. Please contact me with any suggestions, ideas or questions you have about this site.

Helpful Tips for Parents

• Record results with drawings or photographs. Scientists document — preschooler scientists should too. A simple science journal develops both literacy and scientific habit.

• Use correct scientific vocabulary from the start: observe, predict, experiment, hypothesis, result, evidence. Children absorb vocabulary in context without explicit teaching.

• Outdoor science (nature observation, weather tracking, garden study) is as rigorous as lab science and has the added benefit of physical activity and environmental connection.

• Science supplies don't need to be purchased. Vinegar, baking soda, cornstarch, salt, food coloring, and dish soap cover most preschool science experiments adequately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I build a child's science confidence when they get frustrated by unexpected results?

"Unexpected" is the word to use rather than "wrong" — in science, results that don't match predictions are the most interesting. "The result was different from what we expected — that means we discovered something! Let's figure out why." This reframe makes the unexpected result a success rather than a failure, because it produced a question worth investigating. Science confidence is built by treating all results as valid data, never as failure.

Are commercial science kits appropriate for preschoolers?

Commercial science kits designed for ages 4+ can be engaging starting points. Look for kits that use simple, safe materials and produce visually dramatic results (crystal growing kits, volcano kits, solar system model kits). Avoid kits with very small parts, complex safety requirements, or expected outcomes that are frustrating when not achieved. The best kits are those that leave children wanting to experiment further beyond the kit's instructions — look for kits with extension activities built in.

Related reading: See also our nature walks guide and our color mixing science for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 😌 Patience & Delayed Gratification — Experiments with delayed results — growing plants, watching crystals form, tracking weather — teach children to wait for outcomes rather than needing immediate feedback, a skill that predicts academic and life success.
• 📏 Early Math & Measurement — Measuring ingredients, comparing quantities, and observing size changes connects science directly to mathematical thinking — making science experiments some of the richest early math experiences available.
• 🏗️ Engineering Thinking — Testing structures, materials, and designs to see what works develops engineering intuition — the practical understanding of forces, materials, and design that underlies all physical construction and problem solving.
• 📝 Recording & Documentation — Drawing what they observe, recording measurements, and noting results gives children their first experience of scientific documentation — and connects science to literacy and numeracy in an authentic context.

Do you want a preschool holiday gift that's fun and educational? Are you running out of stocking stuffer ideas? Do you want just one more preschool holiday gift under the tree? Want a fun and yes, cheesy holiday gift for your preschooler? How about a Chia Pet Puppy? These fun holiday presents are great for preschoolers to interest them in plants and gardening. Here are five great things your preschooler can learn from a receiving a chia pet as a holiday gift.