STEM – or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – has been a buzzword in education for the last several years. There has been a growing push to introduce students to these subjects and increase their interest and engagement, and for good reason. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “occupations in the STEM field are expected to grow 8.0 percent by 2029, compared with 3.7 percent for all occupations.”

But what makes STEM so important aside from the projected career growth?

This field encompasses how the world is evolving and changing. Science is all around us, from climate change to ecofriendly manufacturing to healthcare. Technology is transforming how we live, work, learn, travel, and interact with one another. Engineering is an integral part of our communities and infrastructure, including buildings, roads, and bridges. Math is integrated into virtually everything we do from cooking to budgeting to planning our day.

How Does STEM Education Help Students?

It exposes students to a wide range of 21st century skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, innovating, and collaborating. They learn to tackle real-world problems and overcome obstacles which can make content more meaningful, relevant, and engaging. Students are involved in hands-on activities where they can explore, experiment, and see how things work for themselves.

It is so much more than learning from a book. For example, through basic coding, they can better understand how a website works or how to control a robot or machine to complete a task. This gets their mind thinking about other ways to use this technology. They can also learn from their mistakes and come up with a variety of different possible solutions.

Encouraging STEM Learning at Home

Help inspire your child’s interest in STEM at home by creating an environment that encourages them to ask questions, try new things, be creative, and seek answers.

  • Talk about it: Ask open-ended questions such as, “What do you think would happen if” or “How do you think we could” or “Why does.” Get them to look at issues from different perspectives and want to know more about why or how things work.
  • Give them opportunities: Invest in STEM toys and games, or simply give them materials to build and innovate. Items you already have around your home can be used in a multitude of ways. Consider signing them up for a coding class.
  • Do experiments: There are tons of websites and books that have at-home experiments you can do together. Or, have your child propose their own question and set up an experiment to try to find the answer. See what happens if you change one thing.
  • Research: If they ask questions you don’t know the answer to, find out together. Read books, watch videos, and talk to other people. Encourage their curiosity.

STEM education opens a world of opportunities. Crafting Scholars can support your child’s curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills by providing individualized learning programs to reinforce core concepts across a multitude of subjects. Contact us today to learn more and reserve your child’s spot.