When trying to figure out how magnets form naturally the children understand how to change iron into something with magnetic pull but how did the magnet come to exist?

Answer 1

Electrons have their own magnetic fields. They "pair up" so that in most materials they cancel each other out, but in a few kinds of atoms such as iron, cobalt, and nickel there are several unpaired electrons and each atom winds up having an overall magnetic field. In unmagnetized iron, the atom-magnets are pointed every which way so that on average every direction has as many "north" poles as "south" poles. When you magnetize the iron, what you're really doing is making all the little atom-magnets line up in the same direction so the fields reinforce each other instead of canceling each other out.

Answer 2

Natural magnets are formed through geological processes that involve the alignment of magnetic minerals in rocks due to the Earth's magnetic field. Over time, these aligned minerals become permanent magnets. Volcanic activity and cooling of molten rock can also contribute to the creation of natural magnets.