Step One

First, you must have an idea what you are looking for. If you are unfamiliar with wild animal tracks or what wild animals might be in your area, check out eNature.com and insert your zip code in their Local Nature Zip Guide. This guide will give you lists of mammals that are native to your area. The guide provides pictures of tracks to look for. Print pictures of a few of the tracks on your eNature.com list.

Step Two

Second, dress your preschooler for the weather and get an early start. Walk around your neighborhood looking on muddy, sandy, or snowy areas where tracks will be easier to see. Also look for scat. Even if you can't identify the scat, it is a clue that you might find tracks nearby.

Step Three

Finally, take pictures of the tracks you see so that you can keep a record of what you saw and identify the tracks at home. Keep a record of any tracks you see so that next time you go for a tracking walk with your preschooler you can review what you have seen before.

Variations

This activity relies on your ability and access to a computer. If you do not have access, your local public library will likely have a good wild animal book.

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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.

• Visit science museums, planetariums, and nature centers regularly. Real encounters with scientific environments are more motivating than any experiment at home.

• Give children real tools: a real magnifying glass, real measuring cups, a real thermometer. Toy versions deliver less sensory and intellectual feedback than actual instruments.

• Integrate science into daily routines: cooking (chemistry), gardening (biology), building (physics), weather watching (meteorology). A science-rich home requires no special equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

How do I keep science learning going between experiments?

Science is a mindset, not a schedule. Keep a magnifying glass accessible for impromptu investigation. Ask "why do you think...?" during daily life. Notice scientific phenomena out loud: "Look at how steam rises from the soup — where does it go?" Maintain a simple nature observation area (a window bird feeder, a terrarium, a weather chart). The child who develops the habit of curiosity about the physical world is doing science continuously, not just during scheduled experiments.

Related reading: See also our weather science and our bubble experiments 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.
• 🏗️ 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.
• 🔍 Observation Skills — Paying close attention to what happens during an experiment — noting colors, textures, movements, and changes — builds the observational precision that all scientific and analytical work requires.
• 🔬 Scientific Method — Even a simple experiment teaches the predict-test-observe cycle that is the foundation of scientific thinking — and preschoolers who internalize this process approach problems with genuine scientific confidence.

Get your preschooler outdoors in the winter by going animal tracking. Wild animals are around even though you may not see them. Many wild animals, such as the Red Fox, deer, and mice, come out at night or when there is no one around. Although you may never see these animals, you can tell where they have been by what they leave behind.

Animal tracks (footprints), tree scarring, and scat (animal droppings) are signs that wild animals have been around. Take your preschooler on an adventure to search for the wild animals that might live in your neighborhood.

Questions to Ask Your Child

Use these open-ended prompts to extend the learning during or after the activity:

• "What do you think will happen before we try it?"
• "Was your prediction right, or did something surprise you?"
• "Why do you think that happened?"
• "What would change if we tried it with something different?"
• "Can you think of a place in real life where you've seen this before?"
• "What question does this make you want to answer next?"

There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions. The goal is to keep the conversation going, model curious thinking, and give your child practice putting their experience into words.