That’s why play-based learning is at the core of everything we do at our Bay Area preschools.
Did you know your preschooler learns valuable and applied skills from preschool activities?
Growing seeds, sorting toys, or playing with shapes can all introduce your child to basic principles of science and math.
Sound fun? Click here for some fun sensory activities to try with your preschooler at home.
STEM and STEAM education are sure to be hot topics in 2019, but what do these terms really mean and how do they apply to your child’s future?
Let’s find out.
What does STEM stand for?
STEM is a popular acronym embodying a philosophy of education that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
STEM and STEAM are about teaching these skills and subjects in a way that applies to real life.
…and what about STEAM?
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) is about incorporating applied arts and creative thinking to situations.
The extra A teaches children about empathy, ethics and citizenship in an engaging way by raising important questions and starting debates.
For instance, creating new ways to solve a problem or integrating principles of design into practical dilemmas.
The practice and principles of the two terms are highly similar, but it’s a matter of personal preference which acronym you choose to use.
Why is STEM based learning important for preschool children?
STEM based learning is a brilliant way for children to explore their curiosity in a natural way.
Educators are always looking for effective and meaningful approaches to engage with young children and a STEM focused curriculum provides space to do so.
Preschool children love to have fun, so play is a wonderful opportunity to pick up skills and knowledge at the same time.
What STEM activities can my child complete at Kids Konnect?
At Kids Konnect your child can engage their senses with exciting learning tasks everyday.
For example, a lesson about farm animals will include stories, songs and then a math activity, sorting plastic toy animals into categories.
These activities have been specially designed for your child to practice basic math concepts such as patterns.
Preschoolers even pick up early scientific concepts through play such as guessing and testing answers to questions in trial and error experiments.
For instance, your child might build a tower using toy blocks to see how well it will balance or learn to mix colored paints for their artwork.
STEM learning is an important way preschoolers learn to turn interests and experiences into learning moments.
How STEM relates to later life and education
An underlying goal of STEM education is to pique a child’s interest into wanting to pursue these subjects in later life.
We incorporate STEM into our play-based curriculum as a way to allow your child to learn the skills they need in a structured environment.
Consequently, we find teaching children from a STEM perspective encourages them to play, ask questions and find their passions early on, helping them become innovative and successful adults.
We think STEM is STUPENDOUS
Ultimately, critical thinking and problem solving are necessary skills for future generations that are honed and developed with age and experience.
In a technology driven society, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) based education provides a blended learning experience for your child to get the start in life they deserve.
If your child has high hopes of being an architect or an astronaut one day then why not encourage them to reach for the stars early on in life?
Let us know your thoughts on STEM subjects in the comments below and stay tuned to our blog for more on STEM and STEAM.
