There is a misconception that when we teach kids about STEM subjects, they are only going to need to know these things if they decide to get higher education in a related degree or go to work in a STEM field. There is nothing further from the truth. Although there is a shortage of STEM workers right now, that doesn’t mean that everybody needs to learn science and technology and go to work in those fields.
There are a lot of benefits for your child to learn these subjects even at an early age regardless of if they go further with the education later on. First of all, STEM is wide-ranging as it encompasses many subjects in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. There are thousands of possibilities for education and work within those fields. In this article, we will go over some of the benefits you can expect when you start teaching STEM subjects to your children.
1 – They learn hands-on experiences
Kids are natural learners and love to learn by doing. Hands-on experiences are a great way for kids to learn about the world around them. This type of learning then becomes hard wired into them and helps them learn a variety of subjects throughout their life. They will generally excel at math and science when they do projects that involve using their hands since it is so experiential and concrete.
Household science experiments are a lot of fun for kids and parents to do together as it allows them to see things happen that they caused. This sets them up with an eagerness for learning. These lessons are an experience and help solidify the things they are learning.
Another very important aspect of using these experiments to teach kids STEM is that it develops a spirit of collaboration. It is really important for children to learn how to work together towards a common goal. Doing these experiments is a very concrete way for them to see the value of working together to get the desired results. They will learn that if they don’t work together the experiments don’t tend to work.
2 – Critical thinking
One of the biggest challenges facing the world today is the lack of critical thinking skills that people have. Misinformation and disinformation campaigns are running rampant and the cause is usually people who don’t use their critical thinking skills to see through many transparent propaganda instances.
People who learn STEM subjects at an early age are less gullible and exhibit higher critical thinking skills. This is set in them at an early age and they are able to carry these skills throughout their life. They are less likely to fall for scams and will generally have a higher salary than their peers who don’t have the same critical thinking skills.
3 – Problem-solving skills
No education is complete without learning critical problem-solving skills. This is one of the building blocks of a life of learning and curiosity. When a child can learn that then it doesn’t matter what kind of degree to pursue or career to choose. This is a skill that will help them in every aspect of their life.
They will be able to make sound financial decisions and understand how to get out of situations. They can avoid making a lot of mistakes others make in life because they know how to think their way out of situations due to their ability to problem-solve.
If they do decide to get into a STEM career then they have a solid foundation to learn a specific discipline within any of those subjects since they all depend on problem-solving.
4 – Taking initiative
The political and business worlds are in need of good leaders these days. A good leader is one who is able to take initiative and get things done. This is a skill that is developed early on when you teach your children about STEM subjects.
It can be out of enthusiasm since they are able to see their efforts achieve results. This gives them an esteem boost that makes them want to try it again. Taking initiative is not always intuitive since there is a fear of failure. This is reduced greatly by the confidence children develop by learning about the scientific method.
Conclusion
There is no downside to learning about STEM subjects at any age. There are only benefits. If you want your child to develop the important skills they need throughout their life then these lessons are essential.
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