When it comes to introducing your child to STEM topics, the key is to weave these concepts into their existing interests. STEM, encompassing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, isn't confined to textbooks or classrooms but must find their application out in the real world if STEM is going to be of any use.
Here are 4 easy steps to make your kids STEM proficient::
1. Uncover STEM in their Every Day Interests:
STEM topics can be derived from anything your child is passionate about. The key is to find what they want to get better at every day, and not what just seems to get them excited.
2. Creating a positive experience is more important than curiosity:
While cultivating your child's interest in STEM may seem essential, it is far more important to create a positive experience around it. Frustration and impatience can deter their enthusiasm, and make the goal more around pleasing or disappointing you instead, we call this unintended effect: goal hijacking. Keep the train going by moving onto something else then returning back to the challenge, momentum can be your best friend because it is a key characteristic of play, and the closer learning can be to play the better the learning experience will be.
3. Build a Transactional Relationship:
Ask, Solve, Reward: Transform the learning process into a transactional relationship. Pose problems or challenges and ask them to come up with a STEM related solution. What does that mean? It means use structured thinking to solve the problem ie. Critical thought. By having them help you solve your problem, this signals they can be useful, fostering a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
4. Teach Versatility and Responsibility:
You Are Their First Customer: With a sense of usefulness to others should come reward if they are to understand that skills and work are valuable . By being your kid’s first customer, they can learn what it’s like to meet or fail your expectations. This is where point 2 about reinforcing a positive experience becomes most important because success is entirely dependent on how well received their lessons from failure are. You as the parent cannot protect them from failure but you can help create a better attitude when they do fail.
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