STEM education is a term that you have heard quite a lot in the past few years. But what does it actually mean? You may know that it stands for science; technology; engineering and mathematics; it is also more than just the four disciplines put together. It is the study of the four disciplines through an applied and interdisciplinary approach. 

Why is STEM Education suddenly so popular?

As we live in a globalised world and technology continues to evolve; many of the jobs of today will become obsolete due to automation. At the same time, jobs that require new skills are being created. As the information age continues to evolve, it is important for us to have the skills and knowledge to adapt to.

A career in STEM is much broader than you may think – it can even be an illustrator or a fashion designer. STEM is all around us, and no matter what career people are in, STEM skills are beneficial everywhere. Therefore, it is important for STEM education to be started early, to allow children to learn valuable skills and prepare them for their careers.

What makes STEM different from the traditional education approach in science and maths is that STEM focuses on an interdisciplinary approach. It teaches students how to apply concepts learned in everyday life, which allows students to think outside of the box. Students are also encouraged to learn by doing, which gives them a more hands-on experience. STEM education not only teaches students technical concepts but can help develop lifelong analytical skills that are later important. It does more than just help students learn.

Benefits of STEM Education

Getting kids started in STEM education as early as possible is beneficial because it can build a good foundation for their future and spark their interests.

Here are some fun and easy activities to introduce STEM to kids:

• Problem-solving skills. STEM teaches critical thinking skills which allow people to learn by analysing problems and finding ways to overcome them.
• Knowledge application. It teaches how to apply concepts learned into real-life examples, which is useful.
• Creativity. Students often have to think outside the box. Creativity is essential to the innovative world we live in and often needed to achieve goals.
• Teamwork and collaboration. STEM encourages students to share ideas and work together to learn together. It is one of the most crucial skills in life.
• Process learning. Doing projects from start to finish teaches different skills involved in the process. It can be helpful in real-life situations.
• Encourages experimentation. Students should be encouraged to develop ideas and test them. This way they learn to experiment and take risks.
• Resilience. As students are encouraged to experiment, this leads to trial and error. It lets students understand that failing is fine and to not give up.

The skills that STEM education encourages allows students to be prepared for later life no matter what career they choose. These skills are valuable both in the workplace, and our personal life. 

Furthermore, currently, there is a large gender gap in STEM-related disciplines, as it is most known for being a male-dominated. Research suggests that females are less likely to choose a career in STEM because of the stereotypical image, and how they cannot really see themselves in such a career. If STEM education is started early, it is possible to break these stereotypical barriers and teach young girls that they can have a career in STEM. Also, teaching them at a young age can spark interest in STEM, and encourage them to possibly pursue a career in it.

How to introduce STEM to kids

How can you introduce STEM to your kids? It’s never too early to start! Since they are naturally curious, teaching young children about STEM is actually quite simple. STEM education for young kids does not mean teaching them difficult concepts; it’s as easy as allowing them to engage with their surroundings and raise questions. This helps them think creatively and discover new things. 

Here are some fun and easy activities to introduce STEM to kids:

• Going on nature walks. This is an easy way for kids to interact with their surroundings. They can collect things such as rocks, leaves, flowers, etc. Kids can practice counting and sorting to increase their sense of inquiry.

• Visit a science museum. Science museums often have fun little activities for kids to play with while learning something new!
  
• Building blocks. Encourage kids to build towers or other structures with toys or everyday items such as paper cups, letting them use their imagination.

• Cooking or baking. Involve kids in the process to learn better.
  
• Fun experiments. Allow kids to learn new things by conducting fun simple science experiments that can teach them simple things, such as creating weather in a jar.

There are many different small activities to introduce kids to STEM. As they get older, they can do more complex experiments, play with robots, and other resources that pique their interest. Starting out with small activities will keep them interested and help them raise questions that can build a good foundation for future learning. 

You can also introduce kids to STEM education with Inquibox, wherein you can get monthly subscription boxes with STEM activities to explore different STEM concepts! Sign up here: inquibox.com/vip-adventure