A STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) career can be a very successful and high paid one. Not only that but STEM is an area that is quickly growing, so finding and keeping a job is unlikely to be a problem. Is your child showing an interest in STEM and you want to know how you can encourage this?
Read on to find out more…
Start from a young age
It’s never too early to get your child involved in STEM activities. Even as toddlers there’s plenty of ways to introduce STEM. You could try some simple at home experiments, you can easily search for ideas online. Building blocks are also a great way to encourage children. And don’t forget water play, which is a great way to keep children occupied in summer but is also an excellent learning opportunity too.
Keep it fun
Following on from my last point, whether your child is two or 16, it’s important to keep learning fun. Of course, the older they get the more serious their education will become, but you can still encourage fun STEM activities at the weekend or during the school holidays. Why not visit a science museum together? This could be a traditional museum, or a more fun, hands on museum such as the Eureka! Children’s Museum in Halifax.
Or how about getting outdoors and looking for wildlife? Going on a scavenger hunt or simply collecting objects and making a nature picture with them when you get home. There’s many fun ways to encourage STEM learning at home.
Watch STEM videos and TV
We always seem to think negatively about TV and video these days, as our children spend an increasing amount of time in front of screens. But remember they can be educational too. So why not watch STEM TV shows and YouTube videos together? Some great examples are Odd Squad, Number Blocks, Horrible Histories and Blue Planet.
Discuss career opportunities
Primary school may be a little too soon to be discussing potential career options, but early in secondary school is definitely not too soon. A STEM career could be a biologist, aeronautic, engineer, computer scientist, mechanical engineer or even a teacher. There’s so many possibilities. There are some great resources online where children can explore possible careers. But it’s always a good idea to discuss their options with a careers advisor too.
Keep up with STEM news
As children get older and decide that they might like to pursue a career in STEM, it is a good idea for them to keep up with STEM news. Current headlines include developments in autologous cell therapy, the STEM teacher shortfall, nuclear powered spacecraft and breakthroughs in nuclear fusion energy. All of these would be great discussion points for coursework or in college or university interviews.
Recommended STEM news websites include STEM Learning, Science Daily and All About STEM, as well as mainstream sites such as BBC News.
Does your child have a passion for STEM subjects? How are you encouraging this? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you for reading.
Hi Emma,
Have you been to Eureka! The National Children’s Museum? We visited recently and were a little underwhelmed. The kids loved it and I thought the cost of the cafe was good value and decent quality (for the price that paid), however some of the exhibits felt a little tired with a number of the more interactive exhibits not working / temperamental at best.
https://letsgomanchester.com/eureka-national-childrens-museum-halifax-guide/
Best
Rich