STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In the past decade or so, there has been a large increase in STEM activities, books, and classes for children. As more children engage in STEM activities, we have been able to see the myriad benefits for young minds.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of STEM for kids as well as some great STEM classes, camps, and activities from our many wonderful Sawyer educators. Let’s get learning!

STEM for kids

• Benefits of STEM education
• STEM books for kids
• STEM activities for kids 

Benefits of STEM education

What is the importance of STEM education for children? When children discover STEM subjects, they become explorers of the universe around them. These are some of the many benefits of STEM education for children as well as STEM in early childhood education.

1. Fosters creativity and imagination. With young children, STEM starts with blocks. Building with LEGO and other materials help young children harness their creativity, imagine new worlds, and build to their heart’s desire. Want to learn more about the benefits of LEGO for kids? Check out our guide!
2. Increased hand eye coordination and motor skills. When small children focus on holding, manipulating, and building with blocks and other STEM toys like Magna Tiles, they gain strength in their motor skills and coordination. 
3. Encourages experimentation and failure. Yes, that’s right - failure is good! When children practice STEM, they can make hypotheses, run experiments, and experience failure all in a safe environment. The best part is that they can easily start over with a new hypothesis and continue learning.
4. Provides opportunities for teamwork and autonomy. STEM can be done with a group of peers or on one’s own. Children can practice working together to build a bigger tower with LEGO or run a more complex experiment or they can play by themselves. In either case, STEM education helps children with teamwork and individual play.
5. Teaches problem solving skills. STEM education is all about solving problems in new and different ways. When children engage in this type of problem solving, they get to stretch their brains and practice resilience.
6. Prepares for future school and careers. STEM education is becoming more and more prevalent and STEM career growth is continuing. In fact, according to the US Department of Labor, STEM careers will grow by 11% in the next 10 years. That is twice as quickly as other occupations. When children start learning STEM from a young age, they can kick start their readiness for school and even their future job!

STEM books for kids

Swayed by the many benefits of STEM for kids? Start introducing STEM to your family with these STEM books for kids. In these books, children can learn about the famous minds in science and engineering as well as read stories about children like themselves who are practicing STEM. 

Here are some of our favorite STEM books for kids to add to your library.

1. Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall. In this picture book, Jabari wants to make a flying machine in his backyard, but has to go through a few different iterations to get it to work. Finally, with help from his father and sister, Jabari succeeds. This book teaches children about the importance of experimentation and teamwork in STEM.
2. Rube Goldberg's Simple Normal Humdrum School Day by Jennifer George. Children love the silliness and excitement of a Rube Goldberg machine, so they will love this picture book! After you read it together, challenge your child and yourself to make a Rube Goldberg machine in your own house.
3. Have You Thanked An Inventor Today? by Patrice McLaurin. This is a great book to teach young children about the often forgotten contributions of African American and Black inventors in the US. If you are looking for more Black History Month resources for kids, including children’s books and activities, check out our full guide.
4. Storytime STEM: Folk & Fairy Tales by Immacula Rhodes. If you are looking to introduce your child to STEM more gently, this is a great picture book for your family. By combining the familiar stories with the newer STEM topics, children can learn while having fun. Plus, each story comes complete with STEM activities and worksheets!
5. Battle of the Butts: The Science Behind Animal Behinds by Jocelyn Rish. Who said STEM has to be serious? This fun book explains how 10 animals use their butts for swimming, breathing, eating, and even killing. Your whole family will be laughing, and learning, the whole way through.

STEM activities for kids

Let’s get learning, experimenting, and having fun at home! STEM activities are a great way to keep your family engaged and interested in STEM in and out of the classroom. Try some of these STEM activities for kids with your family.

1. Egg drops. Provide your children with popsicle sticks, paper, tape, glue, rubber bands, cardboard, straws, and an egg. Challenge them to shield their egg so that it won’t break when dropped off a tall ladder, over the porch railing, or from some other high place. They will love this activity, but make sure you do it outside!
2. Paper airplanes. Who makes a paper airplane fly? Give your child different types of paper so they can see which type makes the plane fly the furthest. Let them practice measuring the distance, too, for added math.
3. LEGO creations. STEM activities at home can be as easy as breaking out the LEGO bucket and asking your child to create something on their own. Challenge them to explore different types of shapes, structures, and more to see what they can build.
4. Sink or float. This is a great STEM activity for young children. Gather a variety of items from around the house and outdoors, like rocks, pennies, crayons, soap, pinecones, play doh, and more. Then, fill a bucket with water and let your child decide if they think each item will sink or float. Ask them questions before, during, and after the experiment to help them understand why it happens. 
5. Water cycle in a jar. Pour around 2 inches of hot water into a heat-safe jar and then cover with a plate face-up. Wait a few minutes, then add a couple ice cubes to the plate. Watch closely as the water cycle forms in the jar! Use this experiment to show the water cycle to your children and explain what is happening.

If you are looking for more STEM activities for kids, both in-person and online, our wonderful Sawyer educators have you covered! Our educators teach coding and programming, robotics, science, math, technology, and gaming like Minecraft and Roblox. There are so many great benefits of STEM for kids, so let’s get learning together!