AD| Encouraging your Children to Develop STEM Skills
If you’re a parent the chances are you’ve heard the phrase ‘STEM’. It’s often used when referring to toys or education, but what does it actually mean? STEM is a common abbreviation for four closely connected areas of study: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. When it comes teaching STEM at home you can find some brilliant children’s presents online that can support their learning.
Encouraging children to develop STEM skills is an important part of their education. It’s more than just science and mathematics concepts. Other skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, decision making, leadership, entrepreneurship and acceptance of failure are just a few of the other skills that STEM education provides.
I find that children tend to learn best through play. The time they spend in early years education can be crucial for their development. It enables them to learn new skills and knowledge. You can also help to support your child’s learning at home.
From building a robot, to making an exploding volcano, testing the weight of different substances in water (this a favourite of mine!) to many more creative ideas. If you’re ever unsure of what you can do, a simple search online should bring up plenty of options.
The first port of call is to encourage their natural curiosity. Children like to ask questions about how things work. It’s in their nature. If you don’t know the answer, you can have lots of fun finding out together.
As with any type of learning children like to be hands on. A science experiment or nature walk can be a great way to get their minds thinking. My children like experiments because you can never quite be sure if they’re going to work or not! The great thing is, if it doesn’t work it’s a fantastic learning curve. It’s also a great opportunity for your children to accept failure and learn from it.
Another favourite STEM experiment that my children really enjoy is using magnets. You can find some amazing kits online so that your child learn all about the magic of magnets. It’s engaging for children to discover the magnetic properties of different materials, learn how a compass works or explore magnetic fields by creating cool patterns with iron filings!
One particularly big thing for me is not limiting my children to gender stereotypes. A bugbear of mine is ‘science kits for girls’. Believe it or not, boys and girls both learn in the same way. Try not to identify certain toys or games as just for girls or boys. All children should be allowed to play with what they want. That means boys can play with dolls and girls can play dinosaurs.
Try to avoid setting boundaries that could unintentionally channel a child in a different direction than the one they want to pursue. It’s also important to make sure your child understands the vast possibilities his or her future holds and to understand that their gender should not limit them.
Do your children enjoy STEM? I’d love to know. Let me know in the comments below.
