“If we want a nation where our future leaders, neighbors, and workers have the ability to understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and to meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce, building students’ skills, content knowledge, and fluency in STEM fields is essential.” U.S. Department of Education STEM learning – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math subjects – has been identified as a priority of the U.S. Government in terms of educating the young. Around the word, governments are taking the same approach. These subjects form the basis of piquing children’s curiosity and developing essential critical thinking skills. The reason it has been identified as being so important: because it involves relevant and real-life problems that require human intervention. With the prevalence of technology in our society, it is important for the next generation to understand more about the way things work in the world around them. Not least, the kids of today are the workforce of tomorrow, so we are talking about our future. Aside from this more serious aspect, STEM subjects, and the applications they have, are enjoyable too, and stimulate an interest in learning in children. Rockets, computers, science experiments: these are the types of activities that really promote a sense of wonder in our kids. The relevance of STEM to children’s learning Let us think for a moment about the everyday applications of STEM learning. From fixing a toy that has stopped working to building with blocks (engineering). From counting and sharing (math) to the natural world around them (science). And then there’s the figuring out and use of those ubiquitous gadgets (technology). These are just some of the daily activities that relate to STEM, and require critical-thinking skills and team work to find solutions. As part of their development, it is essential for kids to learn problem-solving skills and apply them accordingly. And their ability to understand and operate technology is vital for the world they inhabit now and the world they will inhabit in the future. Hot to stimulate your child’s interest in STEM The simple solution is to relate STEM learning to the activities that kids already enjoy, from playing video games and gazing at the stars to playing with their pet. In terms of math, running their own small lemonade stall and making those cash transactions, or following the measurements in cake recipes are fantastic practical applications of those skills. Many video games involve the construction of new worlds and require problem-solving capabilities. Then why not perform practical home experiments which further stimulate their interest and curiosity (a home-made rocket with vinegar and baking soda, for example)? It’s all about relating the activities children love to the aspect of learning, and vice versa. All kids love a trip to the zoo, for example, but that is a hugely educational activity at the same time. Similarly, you can pay a visit to science museums or aquariums and there are any number of other stimulating days out to be had. STEM is all around us, you just need to make that connection for your children so that learning can become practical and fun.