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STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, and refers to all subjects belonging to those categories. They are an important part of any child’s education because they help students develop a range of key skills that can benefit them throughout life. Many jobs require applicants to have STEM-based skills. With all that said, parents may want to look for ways they can explore STEM subjects at home, and therefore take their child’s learning to the next level. Here are some tips from a boarding school in Hertfordshire.
Talk About STEM
Try and think of ways you can incorporate STEM into your everyday conversations as a family. For instance, there may have been an earthquake or tsunami overseas that you’ve read about in the news. Chat to your child about what causes these natural disasters and how people are affected. Next time you’re out for a drive, talk to them about what’s involved in making a car move, and the impacts that fuel has on the environment. The more you talk about these topics, the more interested your child will become.
Play Outdoors
The great outdoors is a fantastic learning environment for children, especially when it comes to STEM. Teach them about different trees, animals, and insects, and ask them to help you with the gardening so that they can learn about what’s involved in keeping plants alive. Discuss the weather and how the world around us changes with each season. Go to the beach and hunt for fossils!
Bake a Cake
Cooking and baking is a great opportunity for children to practise their maths skills, as they have to weigh out ingredients, convert between imperial and metric units, and calculate oven times. There are lots of learning opportunities like this that are fun for all, so your child won’t even realise it’s an educational exercise.
These are just a few examples to get you started; there are plenty more options when it comes to exploring STEM with your child. For instance, you could find them an age-appropriate coding course to do online or play board games together that test their numeracy skills. Water play is great for younger children as it’s an opportunity for them to learn about sinking, floating and absorbency.