You may have spotted the word STEM used a lot recently, especially when associated with various learning activities or different educational toys. STEM is actually an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths; four subjects that make up a key element of your child’s education and life in general. There are lots of valuable skills to be learnt through STEM subjects. For example, problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and independence.
Careers
Having qualifications and skills in these major subject areas can also result in many excellent career opportunities for students. This is because there are various key industries that depend on graduates with STEM-based credentials. To emphasise the various advantages of studying STEM subjects, an independent school in North London have put together the following information for parents.
Learning at home
Of course, most schools incorporate STEM subjects into their curriculum, with the intention of helping young people acquire an interest in these areas as early as possible. Parents can also help, by making these subjects something that is talked about regularly within the family home.
Essentially, the idea is to help your child become familiar with them. Mealtimes are a great opportunity to chat as a family about a new advancement in technology or a medical breakthrough. Even something as simple as discussing the weather will point your child in the right direction. It is crucial that children understand how the different STEM subjects play such a huge role in the world as a whole.
STEM activities
As well as simply chatting about STEM subjects, there are also lots of enjoyable and interactive activities you can do with your child at home to explore these subjects further. If you have a garden, for instance, you could start a vegetable patch together. You can talk about what plants require in order to survive and grow. Allow them to conduct safe science experiments in your home. You can use generic household items, like washing up liquid, to help stimulate their curiosity. Even board games and jigsaws require and build upon certain STEM-related skills.
Further resources
If you are interested in learning more about STEM subjects and how you can encourage your child to explore them at home, you can find some fantastic resources online or at your local library. There are lots of toys on the market, suited to younger children, if you’d like to start them early. You can also get in touch with your child’s teachers. They will probably be able to give you a summary of the curriculum and offer some additional advice on supporting your child’s overall learning journey.
