Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lead to exciting and lucrative careers. But even more importantly, these subjects contribute to new discoveries that advance medicine, produce new and faster electronic devices, and help us understand the wonders of the universe.
Kids spend a lot of time losing themselves in their screens—and they aren’t usually watching educational programming. We’ve got a few ways to get your kids interested in STEM at home.
Reward Curiosity
Kids ask a lot of questions, and that’s what scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians do too. Asking questions is the first step in discovery and problem-solving.
When a child persistently asks, “Why?” or “How did it do that?” do your best to reward their curiosity with positive reinforcement like, “What a great question!” Kids can get into a seemingly endless loop of questioning, but that’s a good thing! Try to stay patient.
If you don’t have an answer to the questions they’re asking, make a game of finding the answer together. You’ll show your children how to pursue answers online, or even better, at your local library.
Follow Their Lead
Children are born to soak up information. They’re little learning machines. But every child has a unique outlook that drives their curiosity in its own direction. Some kids are fascinated by music, others love animals, and some could stare at a blade of grass for hours.
When your child reveals the direction of their curiosity, follow their lead, and provide them the tools they need to pursue their interests. If they love watching bugs, get them a foldable paper microscope to examine insects in microscopic detail. If your child loves to build things, creating block and Lego castles and bridges fosters their interest in architecture and engineering.
Add an “A” for “arts” to STEM, and you get STEAM, an acronym that recognizes the crucial role of the performing and visual arts in the quality of our cultural lives. Find compassionate and enthusiastic music or dance teachers who will bring out the best in your child if they’re a budding performer.
Bake Bread Together
Cooking is a chemistry lesson. Baking bread teaches kids what happens when yeast combines with heat and sugar. Baking also exposes kids to the concept of measurements. You can discuss the role of each ingredient as you mix batter or dough together.
Stargaze
Nothing instills a sense of wonder like a dark night sky filled with stars. Lay a blanket out on the lawn, or take a drive to a spot with low light pollution, and look up on a clear night. Talk to your kids about how people have walked on the moon and how we have sent space probes out into the solar system to send back amazing pictures of our planets.
Getting your children interested in STEM doesn’t take a lot of effort if you capitalize on kids’ natural curiosity. You’ll find that answering questions and learning together is fun and interesting for you, too!
