What your Preschooler will Learn:

Water likes to move from areas of greater concentration (that bowl of water) to areas of lesser concentration (the paper towel). This is also known as diffusion.

The paper towel is made of fibers that make it absorbant

When given a choice, water will move from a smooth surface to the paper towel—even against gravity

What you Need for this Preschool Science Experiment:

Paper towel

Paintbrush

Water

Food Coloring

A few small bowls

A magnifying glass (optional)

What To Do:

Step one: Have your preschooler inspect the paper towel with the magnifying glass if you have one. If not, have your preschooler simply inspect the paper towel.

Step two: Put water and a few drops of food coloring in each of your bowls. Caution: Food coloring stains. You can do your paper towel art with just one color, or with a few different colors; it's up to you and your preschooler.

Step three: Hold a corner of the paper towel so it barely touches the water. Depending on your preschooler, you may have to do this step.

Step four: Watch the colored water move up the paper towel, away from gravity.

Step five: Using the paint brush, have your preschooler drop a few drops of colored water onto the the paper towel. Watch the water diffuse or spread out.

Variations:

See what happens when you fold the paper towel and dip it into the bowl.

Try putting an unfolded paper towel into the bowl and see what happens.

Let your preschooler play with the water and paper towel—they'll learn a great deal simply by playing and seeing what different kinds of paper towel art they can create.

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

• Document seasonal science observations over months and years. A child who tracks the same tree across four seasons has done longitudinal observational science — genuinely impressive.

• 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can preschoolers do science experiments?

Simple science exploration begins in infancy — dropping objects (gravity), banging surfaces (acoustics), mouthing materials (texture and taste). By age 2, children engage meaningfully with water play, sand science, and simple mixing experiments. Between ages 3–5, children can follow simple experimental protocols: predict, observe, record, and discuss results. The scientific method — hypothesis, experiment, conclusion — is accessible at age 4 with appropriate support. The best preschool science is the child's own curiosity, not a formal curriculum.

Should I explain the science behind experiments, or let children discover it?

Sequence matters enormously: always let children observe and wonder before explaining. "What do you notice?" and "Why do you think that happened?" should precede any explanation. If children ask why, give a simple, accurate answer — never give incorrect explanations to protect the mystery. After the child has observed and hypothesized, confirming or expanding their theory with correct information is appropriate and satisfying. Explaining first removes the inquiry that makes science learning durable.

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

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 🌍 Nature Literacy — Learning the names, habits, and relationships of plants, animals, and natural phenomena builds the nature literacy that connects children to the living world and lays the groundwork for environmental stewardship.
• 🔄 Flexible Thinking — When an experiment produces an unexpected result, children practice adapting their thinking — a form of cognitive flexibility that makes them more resilient learners across all subjects.
• 🤔 Critical Thinking — Making a prediction, testing it, and explaining the result develops logical reasoning — the ability to move from observation to explanation that underlies all scientific, mathematical, and analytical disciplines.
• 🌱 Curiosity & Wonder — Science that feels like magic cultivates the sense of wonder that keeps children asking questions throughout their lives — the foundational attitude that drives all learning and discovery.

Create paper towel art with your preschooler and teach them about the movement of water at the same time. Water moves from areas of greater concentration to areas of less concentration and it likes to move along and into fibrous areas, like a paper towel. Teach your preschooler this concept and create art for fridge with this fun preschool science experiment.