For young children, STEM is all around them. As children explore their world, and try to figure out how things work they are building STEM skills. Children are inherently curious, and learning about STEM comes naturally to children. But they still need the support of adults to become fluent in STEM. Parents and teachers can help build these skills through everyday interactions. Social connections are an effective way to help children enjoy STEM activities. Providing opportunities for children to work together can boost learning and motivation. And it is particularly important that girls not only have access to STEM, but also are encouraged to join in the fun!
You don’t need to be an expert in STEM to help children explore and build these skills. Asking children questions about what they observe, what they predict, or to reflect on their explorations can be a good way to get started.
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- Scaffolding
- the support a caregiver provides a child to help them achieve more than they would be able to accomplish on their own
- STEM
- (science, technology, engineering, math) a group of topics linked by a common focus and approach