STEM subjects are a big part of what your child should be learning a lot about in school. This prep school in Hertfordshire builds a child’s strength on what they know about science, technology and the world - something all of us should be interested in and want to explore.

In this guide we share some ways you can help your child learn more about the different ways to pick up knowledge on STEM subjects.

A toddler placing their hand under a gushing tap — Credit: Unsplash.

What does STEM mean?

You may be firstly wondering what STEM actually means?

STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It represents an interdisciplinary approach to education and encompasses a wide range of academic disciplines and fields of study within the domains of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

STEM education emphasizes hands-on, inquiry-based learning and aims to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration skills among students. It also plays a crucial role in driving innovation, technological advancements, and economic growth in various industries and sectors.

Using water play

Water play is a versatile way of helping your child learn how to work with their hands and arms, inadvertently improving their fine motor skills. Having a good grasp of this will also help your child with their awareness of the weight, feeling and sensation that water will bring. It’s a good way of helping your child understand how water fills a space, and teaches them about the different states a material can be in.

You could try activities such as a sensory bin: fill a large plastic tub with water and add various items for sensory exploration. You can include toys such as rubber ducks, plastic boats, sponges, measuring cups, and spoons. Let toddlers scoop, pour, and splash in the water while exploring different textures and objects. A sink or float activity is also a good one: Fill a large container with water and gather various objects of different sizes, shapes, and materials. Have toddlers predict whether each object will sink or float before placing them in the water to test their hypotheses.

Other ideas are to visit a nearby splash pad in your local town; explore water painting (give your little one a paint brush and a pot of water and let them ‘paint’ the fence or patio - no mess!) Even a simple water table can encourage creative play!

Make time for science experiments

Oftentimes there will be moments where your child can learn some new skills right from their kitchen. There are a few different activities you can try that require just the things you’ll have lying around in your home. Set these up in the kitchen to utilise the best space in your home. Vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, stain removal powder and food colouring are good places to start in making lots of mini experiments at home.

An example activity would be Sink or Float: Gather a variety of small objects (e.g., plastic toys, fruits, coins) and fill a large container with water. Have toddlers predict whether each object will sink or float before placing them in the water to test their predictions. Encourage them to explore why some objects float while others sink.

Frozen Excavation is another good one. Freeze small toys or objects in ice cube trays or containers filled with water. Once frozen, give toddlers tools like spoons, droppers, and spray bottles filled with warm water to melt the ice and excavate the toys. This activity combines sensory play with scientific exploration.

Make a solar system with arts and crafts

Often something that will be explored in the classroom, arts and crafts are a good way of getting children used to using their hands and fingers to make something rather intricate. A good thing you can try out, that explores STEM, is making a solar system. You can use papier mache to make globes with balloons, then have your child paint them together with you helping out when they need it. You can both learn a lot about the solar system in this way.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.