In today’s world, STEM has become crucial for all kids; not just aspiring scientists. STEM learning enhances a child’s problem-solving skills so she can find her way in the world.
In this article, we’ll share everything you as a parent should know about STEM education for kids. What is the right age to introduce STEM education? How can you select age-appropriate STEM activities for your child? Where to find the best STEM resources and kits? We answer these and other questions below.
KiwiCo| Tinker. Create. Innovate. With hands-on projects that make learning fun!
KiwiCo makes STEM learning fun and exciting for kids, while taking the prep and planning off your plate. With themed crates that arrive at your doorstep every month, three months, or six months.
What is STEM and Why is it Essential for Kids?
To begin, STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It refers to curricula designed to inculcate scientific thinking in students from the get-go. The acronym was coined at the U.S. National Science Foundation in 2001, and since then, it has become ubiquitous among parents, students, and professionals seeking a career transition.
Parents and teachers often use projects and extracurricular activities (e.g. building robots) to introduce kids to STEM. This is not to suggest that STEM learning is just fun and games. It does require complex learning for which kids may require extra assistance.
But it is worth it. As the world becomes more tech-savvy, the importance of STEM education extends beyond preparing children for specific careers. Here’s why it is essential:
1. STEM Builds Critical Thinking
STEM encourages kids to think critically and solve problems. When children face challenges like getting a robot to move or figuring out a chemical reaction, they learn to tackle problems, test different solutions, and refine their approach. This boosts their confidence and sharpens their analytical skills.
2. STEM Encourages Creativity
STEM is more than calculations and facts – it’s also about letting kids think outside the box and encouraging them to innovate. Kids realize that sometimes there’s more than one solution to a problem. This mindset will benefit their personal and professional lives.
3. STEM is About the Future
This is the digital age. Giving kids a head start by teaching them STEM early on can open up a number of opportunities in exciting and emerging fields.
4. STEM is About Daily Life
Even outside of work, STEM helps kids understand the world around them. Understanding things like how electricity is generated or how certain apps work sparks curiosity in children. It makes it easy to complete everyday tasks, which is something several parents complain their children struggle with.
5. STEM is the Future
Finally, STEM is the need of the hour. STEM jobs will likely grow by 10.8% by 2032, and each year, millions of jobs remain vacant because of unskilled workers. The skill gap is especially prevalent when one accounts for gender and ethnicity. STEM workers can also earn almost double what their non-STEM colleagues make. In short, teach your child STEM if you want to give her a lucrative and dynamic career track.
When to Start STEM Education?
When is the right time to introduce STEM concepts to your child? Here’s a little secret: it’s never too early. Children begin learning from infancy. They are naturally curious, and this curiosity can be shaped into a passion for learning STEM concepts from as early as preschool. So you can begin teaching them from ages one to three.
At this age, their learning is most active. Activities like counting, sorting, or building can lay the groundwork for more complex STEM concepts later. However, early exposure to science has shown proven gains in early literacy and mathematical proficiency. Moreover, early math training has been shown to improve outcomes in multiple domains that persist later in life. All this research does is reinforce the importance of early exposure to STEM for later success.
Choosing the Right STEM Activities for Your Child
Picking the right STEM activities can make all the difference in keeping your child engaged and excited about learning. It’s all about finding the sweet spot – activities that capture their attention and are right for their age.
For instance, does your kid get excited when they put things together, or do they love looking at the night sky? Take these as cues and choose activities accordingly, like engineering kits for little builders or star maps for aspiring astronomers. Learning becomes exciting rather than a chore when the activities align with what they enjoy.
Age-Appropriate STEM Activities
- Ages 3-5: Hands-on, tactile activities work best at this age. These include building with blocks, sorting objects, or exploring nature.
- Ages 6-9: Children at this stage are ready for more structured projects. You can create fun experiments like a baking soda volcano or circuits.
- Ages 10 and up: Older kids can tackle more advanced challenges like programming, constructing bridges, or designing video games.
If you’re looking for a structured, age-appropriate approach to STEM, check out KiwiCo Labs. KiwiCo offers hands-on projects designed to match their age and pique their interests. It’s a great way to help your child build essential STEM skills progressively.
Creating a STEM-Friendly Environment at Home
STEM learning isn’t restricted to a classroom. You can make your home a STEM-friendly environment as well. For instance, encourage your kids to ask questions, experiment with different materials, and investigate how things work. Simple activities like watching bugs, building towers, or even baking can open doors to STEM learning.
You can use magnets to introduce the magnetic field. Kitchen supplies like measuring cups and ingredients can be used for science experiments, and even old gadgets can be safely disassembled by kids to learn how things work inside.
Of course, if you’re looking for a bit more structure, KiwiCo Clubs offer fantastic hands-on projects that grow with your child, making learning both fun and educational.
How to Select STEM Resources for Your Child
1. Match Activities to Your Child’s Interests
The best way to keep your child engaged is by connecting STEM activities to what they already enjoy.
If they enjoy playing with dinosaur figures, how about getting them a paleontology kit? If they love stories about space, a telescope will make an exciting gift. It’s all about making learning exciting and relevant to them.
2. Prioritize Quality and Durability
When it comes to STEM kits and toys, quality really matters. Durable materials not only last longer but can also handle the wear and tear of excited little learners.
Children love to throw things around, whether out of excitement or frustration. Hence, you’d want to invest in sturdy and durable resources, such as those offered by KiwiCo, that allow for repeated use without damage.
3. Focus on Educational Value
Not all STEM resources are created equal. Look for kits that explain the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind the project, not just the ‘what.’
Resources that challenge your child to think critically and solve problems will provide a much richer learning experience than those that only guide them to follow instructions.
KiwiCo Labs: The Most Reliable Choice
KiwiCo has recently upped the game in STEM learning approach with the launch of KiwiCo Clubs. Each club is tailored to an age range and area of interest, making it super easy for parents to find the perfect match for their child. Whether your child is interested in science, engineering, art, or exploring the world, KiwiCo Clubs have something to spark their curiosity and enhance their problem-solving and creative skills.
What really sets KiwiCo Clubs apart is their focus on continuous learning, instead of just receiving a crate each month. This gradual increase in complexity helps reinforce concepts and keeps kids excited about learning more.
In short, introducing kids to STEM activities early equips them with essential tools to excel in school and beyond. Through simple experiments at home or structured programs like KiwiCo Labs, finding the right resources can make all the difference in keeping your child excited about STEM learning.
