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The words "I'm bored" can strike panic in even the most seasoned of parents. Inevitably, at some point, your child will utter those terrifying words. If you're looking for things to do with your kids when you're stuck inside, you may want to consider setting up some hands-on STEAM activities for your kids.
What is STEAM?
The acronym STEAM was coined by Qualcomm Inc. co-founder Harvey White. The initiative incorporates science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in education. STEM, a term from the National Science Foundation in the early 2000s, was updated to include the arts. White argued that creativity and innovation and thus art were key proponents to a strong future workforce.
The benefits of STEAM activities and learning
Holli Riebeek Kohl, who works for Science Systems and Applications, Inc. at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, says that STEAM activities offer kids the ability to use their natural curiosity to learn. "When kids explore to discover science, math, and engineering on their own terms (including through art), these topics become exciting. They become relevant to everyday life," the GLOBE Observer Coordinator told Mom.com. The GLOBE Program offers a wide variety of opportunities for students to better help them understand the Earth and the environment.
Kids, by nature, are curious about the world around them. As parents, we can provide them with resources to explore that curiosity and foster a love of learning and discovery that will serve them into their adult years.
Indoor STEAM activities for young children
1. Use what you have around the house to create STEAM learning experiences for young children. When my son was younger, I would set up simple STEAM activities to incorporate hands-on learning into our homeschooling. One of these was an interactive "Three Little Pigs" project. He read a rebus story along with me while he built the pigs' homes from items around the house. We used raffia (straw) that we had leftover from a gift basket, craft sticks for the house made of sticks, and Lego for the house made of bricks. The activity was an easy way for him to visualize why a house made of bricks was better able to withstand the wolf's huffing and puffing.
Mom of two girls, Diana Hughes, agrees that you often don't have to look much further than your kitchen to create fun STEAM activities for your kids. "Household items like wax paper, aluminum foil, baking soda, vinegar, and water are perfect to start at-home science experiments," she told Mom.com
2. Discover math art books together. You don't need to go to the library to load up on STEAM books for your kids. Consider taking advantage of digital library apps like Hoopla or Overdrive to introduce math art books to your child. One of our favorite picture books, Growing Patterns, introduces Fibonacci numbers in a kid-friendly way. The book will have kids looking at nature with fresh eyes and is the perfect addition to family nature walks and studies.
STEAM activities for older kids
3. Make a medieval cardboard catapult and incorporate history into your STEAM activities. We studied knights and castles during my sons’ homeschool kindergarten year. One of his favorite projects was creating a medieval catapult. Projects like this, introduced in his younger years, have fostered his current interest in the engineering process. Now at almost 9 years old, he spends a lot of time building and creating on his own. I feel as though this early introduction will serve him well in whichever path he chooses in the future.
As Riebeek Kohl told Mom.com, "Learning through exploration is also how science happens in the real world, so they are building career skills, not just memorizing facts."
4. Discover chemistry and physics in the kitchen. The kitchen is a great place to start when teaching any subject. Using cookbooks and following recipes incorporates reading, math, and chemistry components. This helps kids make real-life connections to what they're learning.
Homeschooling mom Laura Canada Oneill told Mom.com, "I have found that edible science projects are always well-received." She has also incorporated physics into her homeschool right from the comfort of her own kitchen. "The boys spent a long time doing this index card 'trick' which is a great way to jump into physics," she explained to Mom.com.
5. Seek out STEAM activities from online resources. There are a number of online resources for families seeking STEAM curriculum ideas and activities. Sites like Edheads provide a wide variety of games and activities that promote STEM learning. Similarly, Riebeek Kohl told Mom.com that Nasa started a great resource for parents and kids called NASA at Home.
When you work through the activities along with your kids, you're showing them you recognize the value of STEAM in their lives. Incorporating STEAM activities at home is a great way to keep kids occupied, engaged, and curious about the world around them.
