Introducing
math and science to young children doesnt have to be complicated.
Parents and
caregivers dont have to wait until a child can solve written
math problems or conduct complex science experiments. Activities
such as finger painting, building blocks and baking are fun and
interactive ways to build science and math skills in young kids.
About 90 percent
of a childs critical brain development occurs before age 5,
meaning the early years represent an ideal time to introduce Science,
Engineering, Technology and Math (STEM) skills to kids.
Young
children learn naturally by exploring their environments,
said Ginger Sandweg, First Things First senior director for early
learning. What appears to adults as play is really forming
and testing theories, and trying out different variables. This type
of learning goes hand in hand with how young children learn best,
using multiple senses (seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling)
to discover the world around them.
According to
the Center for Early Education in STEM, simple childhood games can
promote significant STEM skills at a much earlier age. The years
before kindergarten, are a critical period to help develop these
skills through fun activities that get their hands and minds working.
Parents and caregivers can be ready with this list of great ideas
to keep your child busy and build those early skills for STEM. First
Things First offers these activities:
- Building
structures knocking them down, testing them with weight,
etc. engages kids in reasoning about physics.
- Cooking engages
children in science and math through measuring ingredients and
seeing how foods combine and change.
- Singing and
dancing convey counting concepts, and making musical instruments
with everyday objects helps kids learn how to control aspects
of sound like pitch, loudness, timbre and duration.
- Through water
activities, kids experiment with movement and volume, filling
cups or pails, then watching how holes in objects affect water
flow.
- In playing
card and board games, children use math and reason about strategies.
Families can
help kids develop critical thinking and reasoning skills by asking
questions like:
- What do you
think will happen?
- Why do you
think it ended that way?
- How do you
think things will be different if we change something?
In addition,
parents can share their knowledge, early on. Things that may seem
obvious to us like weather changes, traffic patterns and
the change in an egg when its cracked, then cooked
are fascinating new concepts for children that give them a foundation
from which to build future knowledge.
By encouraging
the development of STEM skills in the early years, we help kids
learn by experimenting with their environments and give them skills
that will help them be successful in school and in life. In addition
these STEM building activities help to instill a love of learning
and imagination. So, remember to have fun and use everyday moments
as learning moments.
About
First Things First
First Things First is a voter-created, statewide organization that
funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful
once they enter kindergarten. Decisions about how those funds are
spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers.
https://www.firstthingsfirst.org
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