This paper analyzes the importance of research activities for early and preschool-aged children. Children are natural researchers from birth, and their innate curiosity and persistence lead them to actively explore the world around them. To allow children to discover and explore freely and safely, they need support from the environment that, through quality spatial and material arrangement, will inspire each child’s desire to explore. The paper presents activity centers equipped with various research-stimulating materials such as water, sand, clay, playdough, and magnets. It emphasizes the importance of active exploration in nature, which can contribute to further development of children's autonomy and their ability to face their own boundaries and possibilities. It is essential to nurture a relationship of trust and respect between educators and children through research activities, thus influencing the development of children's autonomy. Specific research activities include examples and the role of educators in them. It is important to highlight that the examples given in this paper represent the pedagogical work conditions of a group in one early childhood education institution. Accordingly, the development of practice according to children's interests and capabilities as well as the spatial and material conditions, is encouraged.