Fingerprint Detectives at Different Ages
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- Dusted and Busted: The Science of Fingerprinting
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Fingerprint Detectives: Toddlers
Fingerprinting can be a fun science activity for people of all ages. We provide these generalizations as guidelines about what children at different ages might do during Fingerprint explorations at the Discovery Center’s Experiment Station, in the kitchen at home, or at school. Listed below are science and technology process skills that children may be practicing during their explorations. Please remember: each child develops at a different rate, so some children in each age group may be able to do some of the things described in the age group before or after their own.
How might toddlers explore Fingerprints?
Compare and Classify - Toddlers
Toddlers can look for shapes or patterns they recognize in their fingerprints.
A toddler can compare his or her own fingerprints to someone else’s fingerprints.
Toddlers can begin to compare each of their own fingerprints to a chart of different fingerprint pattern types, by looking at the lines and patterns.
Explore and Observe - Toddlers
Toddlers will need assistance from a grownup to take their fingerprints - children at this age will need help manipulating the tape to get a good print.
Toddlers can look at their fingerprints and describe what they see. With help, some toddlers can use a magnifying lens to look more closely at their fingerprints.