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6 Ways Families Can Promote Interest in STEAM Fields

Six Ways Families Can Support a Child’s Interest in STEAM Fields

1. Promote a Positive Attitude Towards These Areas, Particularly Math and Science

  • Model and express an enthusiasm for math, science, and design yourself.  Show your children that these subjects are enjoyable.  Watch for and name how math and science are important in everyday life.  
  • Avoid using language that may suggest you’re not interested in or “have never been good at” math or science.  Kids pick up on our language and attitudes and may take these on themselves.
  • Encourage a growth mindset by emphasizing effort, perseverance, and the belief that abilities can be developed over time through hard work and dedication.

2. Incorporate Math, Science, & Design into Daily Activities

  • Integrate math and science concepts into everyday activities, such as measuring ingredients while cooking, counting items during shopping, or discussing the natural world during outdoor walks.
  • Engage your child in simple experiments or observations related to science, like watching how plants grow, observing changes in the weather, or exploring properties of different materials.
  • Talk about how things are designed and ways they could be improved to better meet the needs of people who use them.

3. Leverage Educational Resources

  • Explore age-appropriate math and science books, videos, apps, and educational websites to make learning enjoyable and interactive for your child.
  • If opportunities exist for your family, visit museums, science centers, botanical gardens, or planetariums to expose your child to various scientific and mathematical concepts in a fun and engaging way.

4. Encourage Hands-on Learning

  • Provide opportunities for hands-on learning experiences, such as building with blocks, playing with puzzles, conducting simple science experiments, or using math manipulatives.
  • Support participation in math, science, and coding clubs, after-school programs, or workshops that encourage exploration and experimentation.

5. Engage in Problem-Solving Together

  • Encourage your child to think critically and solve problems by engaging in discussions and activities that require reasoning, deduction, and creative thinking.
  • Look for opportunities to think about how things in daily life could be done better, more efficiently, or for a specific audience.  Use principles of design thinking, especially empathy, to explore creative options, 
  • Solve puzzles, play strategy games, or work on math problems together, fostering a supportive environment for learning and problem-solving.

6. Celebrate Achievements and Effort

  • Celebrate your child's successes and efforts in math, science, and design - no matter how small - to boost their confidence and motivation to continue learning and exploring.
  • Provide positive reinforcement and praise for their curiosity, creativity, and perseverance in tackling math, science, and design challenges.