The acronym STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. It is a term used to describe learning experiences where the concepts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics combine and connect to each other. Children often engage naturally in STEM learning when they build, create, and explore during play. Adults can support children in developing STEM skills by modeling observation and curiosity, and by participating in simple and inexpensive activities. It is important to always put safety first when engaging in STEM activities that involve water or cooking. Children should be closely supervised during any activity that involves water or cooking with heat.
Learning with Infants and Toddlers
Infants and toddlers are sensory learners, and one of the most important skills they develop is their knowledge of cause and effect. Adults may observe an infant drop an object, shake an object, pick it up, and then drop it again. They will do this repeatedly with various objects to experiment with cause and effect. Adults can support infants and toddlers in learning about cause and effect by providing them with opportunities to observe and experiment with a variety of materials.
During bath time, infants and toddlers can experiment with water. Add a few plastic cups they can fill and empty with water, poke a few holes in the bottom of a plastic cup so they can watch the water empty slowly through the holes, or add a funnel. They will also enjoy splashing water to see how high it can go or how loud it is. Add a few toys that float, and one or two that will not float. Try adding a couple of dry sponges. Allow children to push the sponge down to fill it with water, and then show them how squeezing the sponge takes water out.
Introduce toddlers to simple tools like a spoon. Fill a small bowl with water, add a couple drops of dish soap, and suggest your child stir it with a spoon. Talk about how stirring the soap in water creates bubbles. As children experiment, verbally describe what you see happening, count objects, and point out the different sizes, shapes, and colors. These activities not only give infants and toddlers an opportunity to learn about cause and effect, but they are also experimenting with sound, weight, the properties of water, and measurement.
Save boxes that toddlers can fill or empty with toys, pillows, or small blankets. They will learn about quantity and weight when they try to push or pull the boxes. Roll socks together to create soft balls toddlers can roll or throw into a box or laundry basket. Invite toddlers to help fold laundry. They can search for all the socks, and then count or match them. Sing or chant short songs that have an easy beat to clap along to and words that repeat. For example, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star or Old MacDonald had a Farm. Take daily walks outside to observe nature with toddlers. Look for birds, bugs, insects, and plants. Assist toddlers with safely touching leaves, tree bark, or flowers.
Learning with Preschoolers
Preschoolers develop critical thinking skills as they engage in more complex and creative experiments. Children’s books about math and science can support children in learning to observe and reflect on their STEM learning experiences. Whenever possible, try to connect the books you read together with activities. For example, if you read a book about colors, go for a color hunt around the home. If you read a book about shadows, search for shadows during a walk outside. Connecting books with experiences helps children develop a deeper understanding of what they read. Look for some of the following children’s books at your local public library:
- Looking Closely in the Rain Forest by Frank Serafini
- Fall Down by Vicki Cobb
- Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives by Lola M. Schaefer
- Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
- Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
- Too Big, Too Small, Just Right by Frances Minters
- Codebreaker Charlotte by Cedar Wang
- The Shape of Things: How Mapmakers Picture Our World by Dean Robbins
- Yumbo Gumbo by Keila V. Dawson
- When I Build With Blocks by Niki Alling
Children also build curiosity and critical thinking skills when playing with loose parts. When children play, build, or create with loose parts they are practicing STEM skills. Loose parts are synthetic or natural materials that can be used or put together in an unlimited number of ways. Some loose parts that might be around the home are: boxes (all sizes), empty paper towel tubes, old sheets, art materials (tape, markers, paper, yarn, or glue), empty plastic food tubs (butter, sour cream, or yogurt), jump rope, balls, and scarves. Children can use these materials to build forts, pretend restaurants, or other structures. Children can also design their own games and create their own experiments. They might build an obstacle course, or create a game by using a sheet to move balls.
When children play outdoors, they can use natural loose parts such as sticks, rocks, pinecones, shells, dirt, water, or pieces of tree bark. Children might use sticks as levers to move objects, rocks might become tables, and shells or pinecones might become game pieces. As children work with loose parts they develop engineering (building) skills, increase their understanding of technology when they use tools like sticks to move or support objects, practice math skills when they use a jump rope to measure distance or count the number of items they need, and practice science skills when experimenting with the weight, height, shape, and other physical properties of the materials they use. Remember that the word technology refers to any kind of tool. It can include a pencil, spoon, screwdriver, or electronic device.
Adults can also invite children to participate in specific activities to practice STEM skills. Cooking projects are a fun family activity, and a great way to practice STEM skills. Children can use cooking tools such as measuring cups or spoons, rolling pins, and brushes to wash fruits and vegetables. Preschoolers can help make salads, simple sandwiches, or assist in mixing ingredients for a main dish or dessert.
Making maps is another STEM activity to do with children. Start by working together to make a map of your home, then go for a walk and create a neighborhood map. Children can also make maps of other familiar places, such as the home of a relative, the interior of a grocery store, or their favorite park. Go to a nearby park and search for shapes or letters in nature, such as two crossed tree branches that form an “X” or a leaf shaped like a heart. Encourage children to talk about what they see.
Explore light and shadow with children. Play a game of shadow tag outside on a sunny day or play flashlight tag at night. Use a flashlight in a dim room to have a shadow show. Try making animal-shaped shadows by holding your hands in front of the flashlight. Tape a piece of paper on the wall, hold a square of lace in front of a flashlight so it makes a lace shadow on the wall, and invite children to trace the shadow onto the piece of paper with a pencil.
Conclusion
Many of the activities that families do every day, such as cooking, folding laundry, shopping for groceries, or cleaning a room, involve practicing STEM skills. Look for opportunities to involve children in these activities and point out the numbers, shapes, and colors they see. Ask questions that encourage critical thinking such as “Why do you think that happened?” or “How can we do this?”
You may also hear or read about other variations of STEM such as STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math) or STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). You can find more STEM activities using the websites below.
References and Resources
California Department of Education Foundation: Cause-and-Effect: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/itf09cogdevfdcae.asp
Let Them Play! Foster Curiosity in Young Students with Loose Parts by PBS: https://www.pbssocal.org/education/let-play-foster-curiosity-young-students-loose-parts-theory
Activity Guides by CHS (free or low-cost activities that promote learning): https://chs-ca.org/programs-services/access-educational-materials-and-trainings/activity-guides/
STEM Booklet by CHS: https://chs-ca.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CHS_STEM_Booklet_English-1.pdf
STEM resources for early educators and families from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/stem
Twenty-three Fun STEAM and STEM Activities for Kids by Parents Magazine: https://www.parents.com/kids/education/math-and-science/5-fun-stem-crafts-for-kids
Count, Play, Explore for Families: https://countplayexplore.org
Early Math Project (resources and activities for early learners): https://www.earlymathca.org
The Learning in Loose Parts by Heather Fox and Susie Wirth: https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/the-learning-in-loose-parts
STEM activities by Reading Rockets: https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/literacy-tips-activities/growing-readers/stem-activities
Noise Makers (Video): https://pathways.org/activities/noise-makers
Sid the Science Kid (Activities for Kids): https://pbskids.org/sid
PBS Light and Shadow activities: https://www.pbs.org/parents/light-and-shadows