5 ways to introduce and encourage STEM education for your kids

Dr Anita Vandyke

STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) education is an important part of learning, and something that the National Skills Commission (2022) predicts is that jobs in STEM fields are expected to grow by 14.2% in coming years – twice as fast as non-STEM occupations.

It’s vital that we introduce STEM education at an early age so we can motivate early adoption and build a foundation for learning.

There’s many ways we can introduce STEM to our kids at an early age, and below are some simple and effective ways we can start bringing STEM learning into the home.

Getting your kids into STEM

1. Encourage STEM related skills

At a young age it’s important to introduce STEM skills early on to help set a foundation for development and start healthy habits. STEM skills include abilities such as curiosity, observation, problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication.

These traits are crucial in nearly all STEM-focused careers, so by implementing them at a young age we start the development before they even attend school.

Allow children to ask the questions like “why,” “how,” and “what if,” and encourage your kids to explore and explain the world around them instead of simply providing them with answers.

Create a fun challenge in the household and get kids’ minds active by asking them to explain the environment you are in.

2. Don’t limit your child to gender stereotypes.

I always encourage parents to never limit their children, go above and beyond and tell them that they have the ability to do and try things that capture their attention and align with their passions. Particularly when it comes to gender, it’s important to try to refrain from identifying certain toys or games as things that are just for boys or girls.

All children should be allowed to play with and explore trucks, dolls, dinosaurs, kitchen sets, and toolboxes. Try to avoid setting boundaries that could unintentionally steer a child in a different direction than the one they would like to pursue. Instead, let your child know and understand the vast possibilities his or her future holds and the opportunities they have to explore their own passion points and interests.

3. Be selective with the toys you use in the household

A simple way to encourage STEM education for your kids is by being selective with the toys we introduce our kids to. There’s plenty of toys out there that can teach kids the necessary STEM skills that we might not be able to.

LEGO bricks offer early learning solutions that stimulate children’s natural curiosity while encouraging young children to learn through play. As well as building skills, LEGO sets are a great way to ignite imagination and curiosity, encouraging kids to learn about the world around them through brick building as well as have fun while doing it.

There’s a STEM set for every level, but the LEGO Space Shuttle Mission is a favourite in our household.

4. Be a role model

Having a solid role model is important in any child’s life. Children are always looking up to and listening to their parents and in turn taking on their actions and beliefs as their own. That’s why it’s so important to make a conscious effort to avoid casting STEM subjects like science and maths as difficult or boring.

Even if you don’t enjoy the subjects, it’s important to work hard not to let your children feel the same.

Instead, try to focus on the fun of learning about something new or a bit trickier and word it as an adventure or a worthwhile investigation rather than something that is impossible to achieve.

5. Enjoy the outdoors

There’s many simple ways you can introduce the world of STEM to your child’s lives. You don’t need an expensive computer, a fancy lab set-up or even a microscope to engage your kids in the world of STEM.

Look to the outdoors as this is a perfect place to begin encouraging your kids to look deeper and take interest in the world around them. The stars, insects, the weather, birds, and the changing colour of leaves for example can all provoke a sense of wonder and encourage further exploration and discussion.

Spark up conversations about the outdoors with your children and allow them to be curious and learn with engaging discussions about different species and beings in the world.

As a rocket scientist, it’s always amazing to have the ability to inspire other generations to follow in my footsteps, and with these simple steps we can address a skills gap and encourage more children to adopt more STEM skills and become more interested in STEM subjects which in turn could lead to more STEM careers in the future.