In celebration of National STEM Day on November 8, we’re highlighting the importance of early STEM exposure for kids. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) plays a crucial role in child development, offering skills that open doors to future careers.
But to most of us, STEM can seem quite overwhelming. I mean, we aren’t all scientists and engineers, right? How can we expose our kids to STEM at home in their younger years and make it more accessible?
The answer? Keep it simple. DEMYSTIFY. The goal is to help kids see that science, technology, engineering and math are everywhere and they interact with it on a daily basis; sometimes without even realizing it.
Here are a few simple ideas where intentional discussion of some STEM concepts in regular activities and interactions can go a long way in helping kids realize how approachable (and fun) STEM subjects can be!
Point out practical applications of STEM in everyday life:
- Cook with your child. Incorporate math by letting him or her measure the ingredients and figure out how much to put in when you double the recipe. Then, point out the chemistry of what happens when you combine the ingredients. Have your child point out the difference between solids and liquids.
- When doing work around the house or in the yard, point out simple machines to your daughter or son. Show him or her how a rake works as a lever to move the leaves. Point out the wheel and axle on a bike. Challenge your child to find two more examples of each around the house!
Challenge your kids to problem solve in everyday experiences:
- A key component to STEM education is understanding how to properly solve a problem. Use everyday opportunities as ways to challenge your kids to think through the process of problem solving. When a challenge presents itself, encourage your kids to come up with a resolution on their own. If it gets too frustrating, support them by helping them break it down into smaller steps.
- Engage them with hypotheticals. When you’re at the playground with your child – and he or she is having a great time on the slide – point out how it works. Ask what could make it even better. What would they do to make the slide more fun? When you get home – have your child draw it out on a piece of paper. Encourage their imagination and push for out of the box thinking!
Encourage tinkering:
- Build it up – Tons of great toys like LEGO and K’NEX lead kids to build amazing structures and objects. When your child constructs that amazing roller coaster, ask him or her to explain how the pieces work. Have your child show you what he or she did. Be sure to engage with them and ask questions as to why they made their choices. Get them talking! You can also ask your child to construct a building with several random items and when they are done, have them explain not only what he or she did, but why it worked.
- Tear it apart – Have an old computer or toaster? How about an outdated cell phone that’s beyond any sort of trade-in value? Unplug it, give it to your child and encourage him or her to explore it. Let them figure out how to safely take it apart (with a little supervision) and explore the pieces that are inside. For older kids, let them research online and see if they can identify some of the pieces and explain to you what they do and how they work.
Explore outside:
- STEM isn’t just screens, machines, math problems and code. It’s about understanding how the whole world works both on the inside and the outside! Engage with your kids on STEM learning while you’re out in nature. Ask them – before they ask you – why is the sky blue? Have them look at the structure of plants, leaves, and even rocks. What is chlorophyll? Have them classify different types of rocks you find. Keep them connected with the world beyond!
- Work together to build a garden. Talk about the plants – what they are, why and how they grow. Observe their growth over time – make a point of checking their progress each week and ask your kids to predict how big the plant will be next week, when the flowers will bloom, or fruit will ripen. If you’re really looking to increase learning opportunities, chart it out! This is also a helpful tool as it engages with your child’s visual learning.
Check out Snapology:
- At Snapology, we assist in the fundamental development of your child through engaging, hands-on and interactive learning activities that foster creativity and collaboration. We help your child grow with a thirst for knowledge that’ll prepare them for future careers in high-demand opportunities. STEM learning prepares our kids for all types of challenges and opportunities in and outside of the classroom!
- Engaging with your kids and getting them to notice the world around them – how things were built, how and why they work, and even encouraging them to think about how to make it better is what STEM is all about! Simply pointing out some of those things we all take for granted can spark that awareness and peak a STEM interest in our children!
