Magnet Experiments for Preschoolers

By Emily Chen · October 8, 2026

Early Science Through Play

Magnetism is magical to preschoolers — and that wonder is the perfect entry point for scientific thinking. These activities develop prediction skills ("Will this stick?") and classification ("What do all the sticky things have in common?").

Activity 1: Magnetic Scavenger Hunt

Give each child a magnet and a bag. Walk around the house collecting items that stick. Back at the table, sort the findings. Ask: "What do all these things have in common?" Guide them to discover that magnets attract metals — but not all metals (aluminum foil won't stick).

Activity 2: Prediction Chart

Before testing, have children predict whether each item will be magnetic: a penny, a paperclip, a crayon, a spoon, a plastic toy. Record predictions, then test. Celebrate wrong guesses — they're learning opportunities.

Activity 3: Magnetic Maze

Draw a maze on cardboard. Place a paperclip on top, a magnet underneath. Move the magnet to guide the paperclip through the maze. Teaches that magnetic force works through materials.

Activity 4: Magnetic Fishing

Tie a magnet to a string on a stick. Fill a container with mixed items (some magnetic, some not). "Fish" for magnetic items. Count the catch and discuss patterns.