By now you probably know that we are big proponents of learning at home and take every opportunity we can to enrich our kids’ education with fun activities, games, and toys that also have educational value. We encourage our kids to explore a variety of areas, but STEM (or STEAM) topics are particularly found in our home activities, especially since science is not a huge focus in school. My kids love to build, craft, knock down, and ask questions, and we’re all for it. We need more of our kids to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), so they can later influence those fields as grown-ups and fill the gaps that unfortunately still exist. We need more women, Latino, Black, and other under-represented groups in STEAM fields and the best way to help fill the void is to encourage our children to explore those topics now! Let me share a few simple ideas for encouraging STEM fun at home, plus scroll down for a great giveaway!
3 Ideas for Encouraging STEM Fun at Home!
- Ask Questions: I find one of the best ways to foster a love of STEAM topics is to ask questions and encourage your children to ask their own questions. We ask our kids random questions as we drive, play, eat dinner, walk, do our morning routine, etc. The point is to get them thinking further and realize that just about everywhere they look, they can find science, art, and math!
- Take Advantage of Technology: There are so many apps out there to help kids explore STEAM topics! In fact, just this week is Computer Science Education Week, so use that to your advantage to introduce your kids to coding with the Hour of Code initiative! It’s free and game-based, so kids are sure to love it. My 4-year-old was doing JavaScript yesterday and learning about loops and if-then statements, all under the guise of playing Minecraft!
- STEM Toys: Of course, play is probably the best way for kids to learn about STEAM topics! Board games, building sets, science kits, and more, are great for kids to explore and are just plain fun!
Holiday Giveaway – $100 STEM Prize Pack!
I’m so excited to have partnered up with a group of Latina mamás that are also passionate about helping kids grow in STEAM topics! Together with MommyMaestra, Hispana Global, Qué Means What, Family is Familia, Mamá Latina Tips, and Mami Talks, I’m bringing you a holiday STEM prize pack with wonderful STEM toys for kids! Valued at over $100, it includes a variety of STEM toys that are great for both boys and girls and will bring a lot of STEM fun this holiday season and in the coming year. Check out what’s included and enter below for a chance to win! (Affiliate links used.)
- ZOOB 125 Piece Building Set
- Gravity Maze Game
- K’NEX Education – Intro To Simple Machines: Levers and Pulleys
- Magic School Bus Engineering Lab
Collage photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™. Giveaway photo courtesy of Dariela Cruz/Mami Talks.
Affiliate links used.
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