Getting STEM Education Off to a Good Start
Children are inherently inquisitive. Children as young as one year old can understand science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. STEM skills, like other concepts, must be intentionally developed as a child matures. Children are capable of complex thinking skills before speaking, but different types of play are necessary to create STEM-related crafts. Questioning, analysis, and curiosity are some of these abilities. Let’s look at how to get kids interested in STEM.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is not a single educational program or subject your child will learn in school.
General STEM subjects are frequently included in your child’s school curriculum, but engineering and technology programs are scarce. Your child may not learn about engineering and technology until middle or high school. According to researchers, early education in mathematics and other STEM fields can improve a child’s learning abilities and close the achievement gap between children. You can increase a child’s chances of success later in life by making STEM enjoyable to them at a young age.
Science can help to pique your child’s interest.
One of the best parts about getting your child interested in science is that you can do so many fun and easy activities together. Here are some actions you can do with your child to interest them in science from an early age:
Take a trip to the great outdoors.
To teach your child about the great outdoors, you don’t have to be a fan of camping. Kids enjoy exploring, and you can teach them about various topics right in your backyard. They can learn about many natural materials, from grass to water soil to rocks.
Encourage your child to inquire about “what.”
You might be tempted to encourage your child’s interest in science by asking “why” questions, but this isn’t always the best approach. “Why” questions can give the impression that there is a right or wrong answer, making them reluctant to respond. Encourage your child to ask “what” questions like “What happened here?” instead. “How have you changed?” and “How have you changed?”
Give your child four different games to choose from.
There are four types of play that can help your child improve their science skills. Examples are pretended play, exploratory play, guided play, and free play. Pretend play is when your child uses their imagination, while experimental play allows them to experiment and disassemble objects. When you, as an adult, interact with your child, it is called guided play; when you, as an adult, are not involved, it is called free play.
Technology Activities for Teaching Tech
Technology activities are activities that teach children how to solve problems using technology. They teach children how to use technology for logical and beneficial purposes rather than just for the sake of socializing and having fun.
Weather technology, science equipment, computers, and other activities are examples of these activities. In the following ways, you can assist your child in learning more about technology and how to use it.
Cut out shapes with scissors.
Cut out shapes with scissors. What is the best way for your child to get these shapes out? Your child can learn how to use technology to cut out various forms from paper by carefully using a pair of children’s scissors.
Make a house of cards.
Your child can learn about what holds the cards up (friction) and why they might slip or fall by building a house of cards. You can also use the cards to conduct experiments. Would using baby powder on the cards, for example, increase or decrease friction? To see how baby powder affects your ability to stack cards, sprinkle it on the cards. Small weights, such as coins, can also be used.
Have your child build a block structure from a picture
This is a visual technology exercise in which your child uses replication. They can look at the structure in the picture, analyze it, and figure out which blocks go where to solve problems and build the system.
Learning How Things Work While Having Fun with Engineering
Your child has figured out how to use technology to solve problems; now it’s time to teach them why technology works. Engineering is essential to teach your child at a young age because they will not be exposed to it until later in school, when their interest in STEM may have already waned. Here are some ideas for introducing your child to the fascinating and entertaining world of engineering.
Introduce them to the concepts of levers and pulleys.
Some of the first things you’ll learn about engineering are levers and pulleys. They’re also among the most specific engineering projects to construct and understand. Consider introducing gears, wheels, and pulleys to your child. Then, with your child’s help, build a pulley system out of string and a spool. One of your child’s smaller toys can be used as a weight.
Use blocks to plan and design a structure.
We talked about an activity where your child looked at a picture of a block structure and tried to recreate it with their blocks in the previous section. Allow your child to create their system on a piece of paper using their partnerships.
Don’t Forget About Math Activities.
When children get older, many of them dislike math. This is frequently due to the difficulty of mathematics. Unfortunately, the problem of math can lead to frustration and the belief that one is not good at the subject, even if one’s grades are adequate. Specific activities that stimulate their problem-solving skills can help to alleviate this frustration and make math more manageable. Here are a few suggestions.
Baking.
When you can see the final product, concepts are always more enjoyable. Baking a cake, cupcakes, or cookies can teach your child the importance of counting and using the proper measurements of certain ingredients.
Play a game of pretend money.
Pretend play is a fantastic way to engage in math activities. Make your child act as a cashier or a waiter/waitress while you act as a paying customer. Set aside certain items for the game, each with its price. Your child can then sell you a thing and give you a change or combine the costs.
It’s never too late or too early to encourage your child to pursue a career in STEM. The earlier you encourage your child to embrace their natural curiosity and wonder about the world, the easier it will be for them to develop a positive attitude toward STEM and lay the groundwork for future STEM success. You can keep your child interested in STEM by involving them in everyday activities such as cooking, grocery shopping, and lego construction. Experiment, explore, and visit museums with your child to encourage them to learn and grow.
LearnOBots to the rescue!
LearnOBots aims to prepare kids for the ever-changing work industry by providing children with STEAM/STEM education. With their approach to practical hands-on learning, their students get to work on various projects. These projects can include 3D modeling, creating robots, building websites, and much more. Their STEAM camps have professionally trained instructors, guiding kids throughout the journey. With their carefully planned activities and curriculum, you won’t have to worry about the nitty-gritty details; they’ll handle it all!
Kids love being a part of the camp and continue to impress us with their amazing ideas. Some of the successful projects included an IoT project featured on MIT’s app inventor website, a water sensor project featured on Hackaday’s website, and a minion tea maker robot.
You can learn more about these projects, the steam camp, and many parents’ testimonials here: STEAM Camp – LearnOBots.
What you may also find useful is their massive variety of DIY kits for kids. Want to feel like a medic? Health kit. Want to work with renewable power? Solar house kit. Want to feel like a spy? Security and wearable kit. With many project options, your kids will never be bored.
You can learn more about the robotics kits here: DIY STEAM Kits | LearnOBots.
That wraps up why STEM is vital for early childhood education. Humanity’s success and growth always lie in the hands of the younger generation. By providing STEM/STEAM education, LearnOBots and many educators hope to make the future brighter. Happy learning!
