The need for STEM degree graduates increases with each year, giving young people with these qualifications a range of opportunities once they’ve left school. But what does STEM mean and why should we encourage our children to study them?
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An independent school in Surrey explores this in detail below.
STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and refers to any subjects related to these categories. Some examples include Accountancy, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Forensics, ICT, Physics, Psychology and Statistics, to name but a few.
These subjects not only lead to fantastic career options for young graduates, but they allow pupils to develop a range of key transferrable skills. So, even if your son or daughter doesn’t end up becoming a doctor or a dentist, exploring STEM will help them progress in other ways.
So, how can parents help their children develop an interest in STEM from an early age? Here are some ideas to get you started:
Baking can help with developing STEM skills
Believe it or not, baking a cake will help your child develop various STEM skills in an entertaining and engaging way. They will have to measure and weigh ingredients, potentially convert between different units of measurements, and calculate oven times, all of which will help them with their numeracy skills. They may also learn about chemical reactions and science concepts, like freezing, melting, and evaporating.
Encourage your children with Water Play
Use bath time or a paddling pool to explore concepts such as floating, sinking, and absorbing etc using things like plastic toys and scraps of paper.
Board Games are great for STEM skills
Lots of games provide opportunities to learn. Operation, for instance, will help your child become more familiar with different organs in the human body. Monopoly and Snakes and Ladders can help with counting and basic sums.
Gardening can be fun and educational
Gardening and simply playing outdoors is great for helping children learn about how to keep plants alive and how the different seasons affect the world around us. They might also learn about different types of bugs and species of birds. Plus, it’s a chance for them to get some much-needed exercise and fresh air.
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Did you enjoy this post? Why not read a few more whilst you’re here. You may enjoy How To Raise Your Child To Love Science. And Top Tips For Helping Your Child With Maths, or The Importance Of Literature In Your Child’s Education.
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