Encouraging STEM at Home
By Kelly Patten
These days, between parenting and education, there is an acronym for everything. BLW (baby-led weaning), STTN (sleeping through the night), and EBF (exclusively breastfeeding) were all new to me as a parent. At school you might come across SEL (social emotional learning), ELL (English language learner), or the omnipresent STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). STEM, like Montessori, is one of those educational buzzwords that is overused and often misapplied. Want to sell a toy, book, or experience? Slap on the STEM label and hope that eager parents hop in line!
What is STEM?
STEM is an interdisciplinary learning approach that incorporates the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math. It focuses on the development of critical thinking, problem solving, and innovation. The concept of STEM education was initially developed in the early 1990s, and implemented in curriculums worldwide from the early 2000s. The purpose of STEM education is to develop students who can think critically to address societal problems and become part of an innovative workforce.
My background is in literacy, so thinking about STEM activities for my daughters feels a bit intimidating. Engineering? Math? I definitely can’t build IKEA furniture myself, and my math skills are questionable at best. Not to mention setting up elaborate sensory STEM playscapes isn’t usually at the top of my list when I get home from a day of teaching. So what does STEM at home look like?
STEM at home
First of all, throw out the idea that STEM at home means building a robot or designing a fancy sensory bin—although by all means explore those things if your heart so desires. STEM doesn’t have to be a formal activity. A simple way to begin exploring STEM is through cooking at home. The kitchen is a great place to introduce your child to tools and how they work. Measuring spoons, mixing, pouring, and chopping all lay a foundation for the future, as well as strengthening little hands. Cause and effect, fractions, chemical reactions, and properties of matter can all weave their way into casual kitchen conversations.
Before you go out and buy new toys or STEM activities, reflect on how to repurpose what you have. Blocks or Magnatiles sitting neglected in the corner? Breathe new life into old toys by playing to your child’s interests. Building a tower? Meh. Building an ice castle in your favorite Elsa dress for your little sister the snow monster to knock over? Amazing. A little imagination goes a long way when creating opportunities for STEM play at home.
Consider how you can encourage curiosity in your everyday routine. Maybe you too are in the insatiable toddler “why” and “how” question stage that my three-year-old is in. The recent stormy weather has led to a spate of questions in our house. Why is it thundering? How do you make rain? Why can’t you turn off the sun—it’s so bright?! We are big fans of the Usborne Lift the Flap book series and recently picked up some new STEM-focused titles including “Weather”, “Germs”, and the classic toddler favorite, “What is Poo?”
Parenting in the age of social media isn’t for the fainthearted. A quick scroll can easily make you feel inadequate if you aren’t creating Pinterest-worthy sensory bins with multiple interdisciplinary objectives. But take a breath, put down the phone, and embrace your child’s curiosity and interests. No Tuff Tray required.
About the Author
Kelly is mom to Freya and Daisy and recently went back to work as an early years teacher. She previously worked as a primary educator and literacy specialist. Kelly loves reading fiction books, listening to true crime podcasts, and watching Disney princess movies.