As a parent, you’ve probably seen the word “STEM” being thrown around a lot in recent years. I have teamed up with a college in Hampshire to explore what STEM subjects actually are. Also I want to explain how you can explore them with your son or daughter at home, to solidify their learning. To put it simply, STEM is an acronym. It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It refers to any of the subjects which fall under this umbrella.

Career Route

These subjects are important because they form the foundations of a range of fantastic careers. For instance, your child may grow up to protect the environment against global warming, save lives as a doctor, or develop an innovative piece of technology.

Examples of STEM subjects

ICT

DT

Geography

Economics

Astronomy

Psychology

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Transferable Skills

In addition to paving the way to a various amazing career routes, STEM subjects also teach younger people transferable skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. This means that a student who students physics at university doesn’t necessarily have to become a physicist after they have graduated; they will have developed some fantastic skills that will be beneficial to them in other industries.

So, how can you explore these subjects with your child at home? Start by making these subjects something that you discuss as a family on a regular basis. Next time you’re driving somewhere, ask your child if they know how the engine works. If it’s raining, see if they know where the rain comes from. If a relative has recently recovered from an illness, talk about how we all have immune systems which fight off infection.

Encourage your child to help you recycle your household waste and talk to them about landfill sites. Make sure they switch off the lights when they’ve left a room and explain how wasting energy is affecting the environment. STEM is all around us and talking about it will help your youngster develop an interest in these topics from a young age.

STEM activities

Try and have some fun with STEM too. Here are some ideas of activities you can do with your child to explore STEM subjects in an enjoyable way:

Plant some seeds in the garden

Conduct science experiments

Go camping and explore nature

Play boardgames

Bake a cake

Take a walk through the woods

We also reviewed a series of STEM activity books which we found very engaging and informative.

These are all activities that are connect to STEM subjects in some way and allow your child to develop a deeper understand of the world around them. If you require more information, don’t be afraid to contact your child’s teachers to find out more. They will be able to talk to you about the curriculum so that you can tailor your home activities so that they complement what your child is learning about in school.