At-home learning in the COVID-19 pandemic has been a trying experience for parents, educators and students alike. Everyone’s figuring it out as they go along, trying to minimize instructional and social time lost. One area of particular concern is whether children are getting enough instruction in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects. These subjects are crucial for healthy development, but they can also be tough to teach online.
Parents who want to help ensure healthy STEM skill development are taking matters into their own hands and supplementing their kids’ education with at-home STEM projects. And it’s hardly about giving kids a motherboard and a plastic enclosure and expecting them to build a computer. Instead, there are age-appropriate projects available in a variety of STEM disciplines. Here are seven important tips on how to integrate these projects into your kids’ lives.
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Choose Age-Appropriate STEM Activities for your Kids.
Most kids like to be challenged, but not overwhelmed. Thus, parents should start by looking at STEM activities that have been designed for their kids’ age group. A child’s teachers can be a great source of guidance on which activities will be a good fit.
Of course, it won’t always be a perfect match. Some kids with a high interest in STEM may be ready to move on to more advanced activities sooner. Observe how kids react to activities you do with them and note if you might need to scale the complexity up or down.
Connect Projects with Concepts your Kids are Learning in Class.
At-home learning is most successful when it connects with classroom instruction, even when that classroom is virtual. That’s why parents should make an effort to provide at-home STEM lessons that enrich and build on the concepts that teachers are communicating in class.
Again, it’s a good idea to connect with your kids’ teachers for guidance on how to integrate STEM projects at home. Most teachers will be delighted to know that you’re supplementing their lessons with at-home projects. They’ll be more than happy to fill you in on what your child has been learning in class and which projects you can use to supplement their instruction.
Find Ways to Make STEM Learning Self-Guided as Much as Possible.
Don’t be afraid to ask for your kids’ input on what kind of STEM projects they’d like to pursue! Kids who get to choose what they work on are more likely to get deeply engaged with the project. To give them a little push, try picking three or four potential projects and asking which one they’d like to work on.
STEM lessons will also often be more successful if they connect to interests that children have already displayed. Take note of what your children enjoy doing in their free time and find ways to build connections with STEM subjects. Interests from sports to art to video games can all be integrated into STEM lessons. It just takes paying attention.
Use Technology Wisely and Consider its Role Carefully.
Obviously, technology has taken on a much greater role in learning during the pandemic. Devices like smartphones and tablets, along with the apps that they run, can provide a variety of great STEM learning tools.
However, when kids rely on their devices too much, the devices can become crutches that distract from the world around them. If you think your kids could use a little time away from the screen, try some more hands-on STEM activities like building a structure or creating water-powered bottle rockets.
Take Advantage of the Free Resources Available for STEM Education.
Scientists and educators have created an incredible variety of online STEM education resources that are free to use. You’ll find materials available that address subjects from ecosystems to robotics to outer space, geared for a wide variety of age groups––from toddlers through high school.
School websites are a great place to start, as many offer resource collections for parents (especially now that remote learning is widespread). YouTube can be an equally rich source of science activities and content, although parents should carefully monitor their kids’ use (much as they should with any social media site).
Turn STEM Learning Into a Group Effort.
Many kids learn best in groups surrounded by friends who are working on the same things. By bringing peers into the learning space, it’s possible to create a more fun and interactive environment that will help kids engage with the material in new ways and feel more comfortable.
Naturally, this demands strict attention to social distancing requirements and other pandemic-related safety precautions. But that still leaves plenty of opportunities, including video chat-based group learning sessions and outdoor group learning projects in the yard, park or other natural spaces. Get creative with safe socialization opportunities and don’t be afraid to try something new!
Use the Many Opportunities Available to Teach Real Life STEM Concepts.
It can be easy to forget about the many opportunities available in daily home life for teaching kids about STEM. Bank accounts, cooking, gardening and other household tasks are everyday uses of STEM that can double as educational opportunities. Household objects are another great source of questions and thoughts—how does this electrical enclosure help keep out water, or how does a vacuum cleaner suck up dirt?
In general, promoting STEM at home can take any form that involves analysis and problem-solving. Encouraging kids to take part in the daily problem-solving exercises of running a household will help them see how different STEM disciplines come together and how logical frameworks can be used to tackle problems that might at first seem complex and difficult.
Every parent wants their child to succeed, and robust methods for at-home STEM learning help lay a great foundation for success. Like most elements of our national crash course in at-home learning, there will be bumps in the road, but clear communication and a willingness to experiment will take your family a long way.
