Wondering how you can prepare your kids for the jobs of tomorrow that will require technological savviness, creativity and problem-solving skills?
Encouraging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) learning is one way to help them along.
You might assume you’ll have to fork out a ton of money buying expensive science kits. Or even spend lots of time coming up with your own complicated experiments.
But you don’t!
STEM clubs can serve as a great one-stop-shop for all your child’s STEM learning needs.
Keep reading to discover the best ones near you so that your child can start dreaming up innovative solutions for the future — all while having lots of fun!
What are STEM activities?
STEM activities help children learn about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths in a hands-on, interactive way.
It’s not about memorising equations and learning programming languages. These activities help children develop advanced skills like exploring, questioning logically and creative problem-solving.
Some of the most popular STEM activities include:
- Doing science experiments with everyday materials
This can include making a balloon-powered toy car, creating a parachute out of a plastic bag or exploring magnets.
- Building structures, robots or other electronic gadgets
This might involve using toy bricks or blocks to build creative buildings, tools or moving robots.
- Coding activities
This might mean using coding languages to create computer programs or websites.
What are the benefits of STEM in the early years?
When we introduce STEM to children at an early age, we’re providing them with a foundation of cognitive skills that they can use for their entire lives.
This includes things like creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, which are all useful to have whether your child chooses to pursue a career in the STEM field or not.
STEM activities for kids are good for:
- Problem-solving
- Creativity
- Critical thinking
- Logic
- Fine motor skills
Best STEM clubs for toddlers
In STEM clubs for toddlers, skills like scientific testing, observation and problem-solving will be brought to life for your young one through hands-on activities and projects!
At this age, the emphasis will be on making the experience fun and exploratory.
This means no sitting down and memorising science facts! Your little one can expect to get their hands dirty with simplified experiments using everyday objects.
For example, baking soda may be used to explore chemical reactions, while food colouring might help them learn about capillary action in plants.
Mini Professors East Surrey in London run fun science classes for 3- to 5-year-olds where little ones are encouraged to explore the natural world around them.
What is STEM for toddlers?
STEM for toddlers introduces Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths concepts to children between 1-3 years old.
The focus is on simplifying and breaking down STEM-based thinking skills (like problem-solving, logic and observation) for this young age group.
But most of all, it should be about making the experience fun and enjoyable for your little one. This will help keep their interest in these topics alive as they grow older.
STEM activities for toddlers
STEM activities for toddlers don’t have to be overly complicated or expensive, as Science and Maths are around us in our daily lives.
Some of these fun, simple STEM projects for toddlers can be easily completed with a few household items that you may already have:
- Playing with blocks or bricks helps them develop spatial recognition and a creator mindset.
- Exploring nature to teach them about different animal or plant species.
- Hands-on projects, like creating a ramp for toy cars using different materials or seeing if toys sink or float in the tub, can help toddlers learn about principles like friction and density.
- Experimenting with common household items — like learning about the three states of matter using water.
Ways to encourage a love of STEM in toddlers
Encouraging a love for STEM in toddlers doesn’t have to be difficult! You can start with simple things that you may already have around the home.
You can use sensory items to teach about the five senses, create innovative structures with building blocks or even count the number of apples in the grocery bag!
Most importantly, make sure to be enthusiastic and encourage their curiosity.
Best STEM clubs for kids
In STEM clubs for kids, there’s a strong emphasis on learning through exploration, hands-on projects and creative problem-solving.
Compared to the toddler years, projects for school-aged children can start to become more complicated and interesting — usually with the use of more technology.
They may try their hand at activities like building robots or creating computer programs while also performing more advanced science experiments.
Little House of Science in London will immerse your child in the wonderful world of science (including chemistry, biology and more!) in an interactive way.
What are STEM activities for kids?
Some great STEM activities for kids include: (1)
- Constructing a homemade rocket or hydraulic arm with recyclable materials.
- Creating a catapult and testing its distance and accuracy.
- Planting and growing a vegetable garden to discover the stage of plant growth.
- Designing an experiment to test what type of soil or environment is best for growing plants.
- Creating a model lung with empty bottles and balloons.
- Developing a computer game using programming languages.
Is STEM good for kids?
STEM is great for kids because these subjects help to develop important life skills like problem-solving and critical thinking — highly sought-after attributes in both current and future workplaces.
Plus, STEM learning is often really fun for children too, as they’ll often get to build cool robots and create awesome experiments!
Ways to develop STEM skills from a young age
You can help your child develop STEM skills from a young age with some informal, hands-on learning experiences.
Above all, keep it fun! The main aim is to go beyond simply passing tests and memorising facts. It’s to develop a love for questioning, being curious and thinking logically.
Encourage your child to experiment with simple materials around your home and ask about how things work. Support them when they create things with blocks or bricks.
Coding classes are also becoming increasingly popular with kids as they get to learn how to create their own games and apps on the computer.
FAQs: STEM classes in the UK
What does STEM mean?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. These learning fields encourage problem-solving skills, scientific thinking and the use of logic.
What is meant by STEM learning?
STEM learning refers to the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
There’s an increasing emphasis on STEM learning for kids because it can provide them with the tools that they need to succeed in our highly technological world.
Is playdough a STEM activity?
Yes, squishy, colourful playdough can be a useful tool in STEM activities!
Moulding it into different shapes to create your own unique structure can help develop engineering skills.
You can use it to explore different concepts, such as gravity, force and balance, as you experiment with various shapes and sizes.
STEM vs. STEAM vs. STREAM, what’s the difference?
STEM emphasises the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, while STEAM includes art in the mix. STREAM takes it a step further by including reading and writing as important areas of study as well. (2)
What is the best age to learn STEM?
STEM learning can happen as early as two years old. In fact, you can find many STEM clubs and classes that cater to this age group.
