It's Never Too Early for STEM

You’ve probably read or heard about STEM or STEAM educational activities but may be unsure about what the acronyms mean and why either concept should be on your parent radar. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Add in art and you have the “A” for STEAM.

As to why STEM and STEAM activities should be important to you, it’s because young children, including babies and toddlers, will find STEM/STEAM play fun and interesting … and these activities are extremely beneficial for cognitive development. STEM/STEAM activities help young children develop critical thinking skills, enhances their creativity, and fosters a curiosity about the world around them.

You don’t have to be a math wizard or scientist to help your children reap the benefits from STEM/STEAM activities. It’s easier than you think to incorporate special STEM/STEAM experiences into your young child’s routine, and you may already be doing it without having even realized it.

Here are some engaging and fun STEM/STEAM activities tailored for children aged 0 to 5 that you can do at home:

1. Exploring Shapes: Use everyday objects like blocks, cups, and toys to teach children about shapes. You can ask them to sort objects by shape or build simple structures using different shapes.

2. Sensory Bins: Create sensory bins filled with items like rice, beans, or water along with toys or objects that have different textures. This helps children explore their senses and understand basic scientific concepts like cause and effect.

3. Nature Walks: Take nature walks in your backyard or a nearby park. Encourage children to observe plants, insects, and animals. You can talk about different colors, shapes, and sizes they see, fostering an early interest in biology and environmental science.

4. Simple Experiments: Conduct simple experiments like mixing colors with water and food coloring, creating homemade slime, or making a baking soda and vinegar volcano. These experiments introduce children to basic chemistry and physics concepts in a fun and interactive way.

5. Building Structures: Provide building blocks, Legos, or other construction toys for children to build and create their own structures. This helps develop spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of basic engineering principles.

6. Storytime with STEM Books: Incorporate STEM-themed books into your child's storytime routine. Look for books that introduce scientific concepts in a simple and engaging way, such as "Rosie Revere, Engineer" by Andrea Beaty or "The Most Magnificent Thing" by Ashley Spires.

7. Puzzle Play: Introduce age-appropriate puzzles that encourage problem-solving and logical thinking skills. Start with simple puzzles with large pieces and gradually increase the complexity as your child grows.

8. Gardening: Planting seeds, watering plants, and watching them grow can teach children about biology, botany, and the natural world. Even if you don't have a garden, you can grow small plants in pots or containers indoors.

9. Cooking Together: Cooking and baking involve measuring, counting, and following instructions, which are all important mathematical concepts. Involve your child in simple cooking activities like mixing ingredients, pouring liquids, and counting out ingredients.

10. Art with Science: Combine art and science by creating homemade playdough and adding natural dyes made from fruits and vegetables. This activity introduces basic chemistry concepts while also encouraging creativity and sensory exploration.

11.  Music and Math: Use musical instruments like drums, shakers, or xylophones to explore rhythm, patterns, and counting. This activity helps develop mathematical skills such as counting, sequencing, and pattern recognition, all while having fun with music.

12. Outdoor Obstacle Course: Set up a simple obstacle course in your backyard or living room using items like cones, hula hoops, and cushions. Encourage your child to navigate the course while discussing concepts like distance, speed, and spatial awareness.

There are many online resources available for parents to find more STEM activities and information for young children. Some popular ones include:

• PBS Kids: https://pbskids.org/ (Provides educational games and videos covering various STEM topics)

• Khan Academy Kids: https://learn.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-kids/ (Offers interactive activities and lessons on math, science, and more)

• NASA Kids' Club: https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html (Features games, videos, and activities about space and science)

• Mystery Science: https://mysteryscience.com/ (Offers hands-on science lessons and activities for elementary-aged children)

Check out this STEM-themed book list for babies and toddlers: It’s Never Too Early for STEM! 
11 STEM-Themed Books for Babies and Toddlers

See this list of 9 Shows to Stream for STEM-Based Fun and Learning from National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Remember, the key is to make STEM activities fun, hands-on, and age-appropriate to keep children engaged and excited about learning! If you create some STEM memories with your kiddos, share photos with us on Facebook or Instagram by tagging @QCCgeorgia.