Tiny Scientists at Questacon

15 December 2004

Mini Q – Fun for 0-6 year olds is the latest Questacon exhibition. It will be launched today (December 15th) at 10.00am at the Questacon building in Parkes. The exhibition will be opened by The Hon. Gary Nairn MP on behalf of the Minister for Education, Science and Training Dr Bendan Nelson. Also attending will be former Olympian Brennon Dowrick and his young family, Dorothy the Dinosaur and Questacon Director Graham Durant.

Pouring water, role playing and grabbing everything is sight are common toddler activities. But did you know these activities form a vital part of learning and development in babies and young children? Find out more at Mini Q.

Mini Q is a new venture for Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre. It is quite different from the many world class exhibitions Questacon has designed and built over 15 years. Mini Q will introduce our tiniest visitors to the world around them through play and experimentation.

Mini Q will feature areas targeted at specific developmental stages, a quiet room with mirrors and crawling space for babies and a sensory cave for experimenting with sound, light and touch.

The highlight of the exhibition will be the water play area, where children and parents can pump and control the flow of water, go magnetic fishing and co-operate to create a spectacular water show.

Questacon’s Exhibition Education Officer Cindy Chambers says of Mini Q: “Exhibits are built so that they’re open ended - there’s no right or wrong answer. Coordination, confidence and different types of play are other areas we concentrate on.”

This exhibition was designed and developed by Questacon in consultation with Early Childhood experts. And after the official opening on December 15th, the real experts (those aged 0-6) will be able to see, feel and explore their way towards science.