Studies show that children decide between ages 7-12 whether or not they’ll consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These are considered the fields of the future. Many parents hope their children will develop an interest in them. The key is developing a positive experience. So how do you do this? How do you encourage children without pushing them? What should parents know if they want to encourage their children’s interest in these fields?
I had a chance to interview Jennifer Turliuk, founder of MakerKids. Turliuk, who works and advises parents on this, discusses why these fields have become so important, and how parents can encourage children without pushing them into a field they do not like.
Why is it important for kids to have strong exposure to STEM concepts?
It’s important for kids to have strong exposure to STEM concepts because the reality is grade schools don’t teach the skills that STEM concepts have. Kids need to learn the skills of the future, including 21st century skills, core concepts of Coding, Robotics, Engineering and more which are skills that schools do not prepare them for. Exposing them at a young age helps them develop those skills early on and they can be better prepared for once they enter high school, post secondary and eventually the workforce. The careers of tomorrow do not exist today; with our support and guidance, today’s children will be prepared for anything! Stem programs like Coding, Robotics and Engineering can teach kids to be innovators rather than consumers which allows them to create their own dreams and futures.
How can parents promote STEM learning if they don't feel like they're strong in those skills?
Makerkids offers STEM for kids, which parents can purchase on our website to encourage a positive relationship with technology for their children as it explores different areas and allows for kids to see which one appeals to them the most. Simultaneously, parents can also see the different areas as well and gain knowledge in the different areas like coding, robotics and minecraft. We have numerous blog posts to educate and support parents to learn how to promote STEM learning at home.
As well, to promote STEM learning subtly at home, parents can engage in the following simple activities:
● Encourage children to notice things around them (ie. the environment, the weather changing, etc) This teaches them to observe and generate hypotheses
● Encourage children to describe things they see and do (ie. when your child sees something, ask them to describe the colour, shape, size etc.)
● Ask “what” questions rather than “why” (ie. what do you think is happening when the bubbles stick together?) This allows children to describe what is happening
● Encourage children to count using one-to-one correspondence. (ie. where ‘one’ pencil is actually one pencil or two pencils is equal to two pencils.) Board games are a good way to do this too because it allows children to read cards, count spaces on the board game as they play and keep a record of their score.
● Encourage children to think about the space around them. You can ask them questions like if we are here where do you think we are on the map? Or ask them to remember signs, landmarks, street names etc.
● Read stem books on your own and then share it with your children. This will create a space of learning for both and your child will feel interested.
● Check out camps. At Makerkids we offer different camps during the summer which focuses on different areas. Do a search in your area and create a list of which one you’d like your child to attend.
● Look for real-world mentors. Parents can search for real-world mentors and contact them to see if they would share their knowledge and experience. They would be more than happy to!
2)https://makerkids.com/4-
How can parents encourage STEM exploration without pushing too hard?
Of course parents want the best for their children and want them to excel at everything they do but the reality is kids are more prone to being more engaged when they aren’t forced into anything they may not know anything about. To ease STEM exploration onto kids without pushing too hard, parents can do the following activities with children to encourage STEM exploration:
● Support your children’s learning and try to take time to learn together. When they do homework or school work while “at home schooling”, encouraging them while they do math exercises will help boost their confidence.
● Take walks and ask them to point out the first thing they see, this will help their observing skills to develop and also engage them in their surroundings.
● Expose children to STEM role models. Show them videos on careers like marine biologists, plumbers, graphic designers, brain doctors etc.
● Attempt fun experiments at home with them. You can do experiments such as “exploring why ice cubes float?”. This will engage their own sense of curiosity and as well if they see parents are just as interested in STEM experiments they will more than likely follow their lead.
What are some great STEM activities the whole family can enjoy?
Believe it or not, parents can initiate family activities that revolve around STEM for the entire family to enjoy. This will create a safe, loving environment for children to learn and have fun at the same time. Here are some fantastic STEM family activities to engage everyone in:
● Do a family game night with board games. Parents can schedule in an evening once a week to have the entire family play a board game together.
● Make movie night STEM related by watching STEM related movies. Parents can research STEM related movies to watch with their children and spread them out over a period of time so kids can get used to watching cool and education cinematics.
● Parents can purchase Meccano M.A.X. a robotic toy for children. Parents can help their kid build stem toys like this and make it a family activity over a day or two.
● Visit a local science museum. Parents can search where the closest local science museum is and plan a day trip to take their children there. Learning science in a museum stimulates their curiosity and willingness to learn and explore.
● Parents can also read bedtime stories with stem books which helps them to absorb information right before they snooze.
Resource: https://coolmomtech.com/2017/
What is MakerKids?
MakerKids runs virtual and in-person camps, programs and parties on Coding, Robotics and Minecraft.
Makerkids allows parents to invest in skills that will be useful in their children's future such as technology skills and soft skills as we provide a safe medium for children to socialise and interact with one another. Kids can have fun and meet like-minded friends. Oftentimes tech-minded kids have a hard time connecting with other - here they can feel a sense of belonging. MakerKids is the original maker concept franchise, with over 6 years of successful history. MakerKids can claim transformative results – kids have started businesses, won prizes from NASA, been featured on TV, had positive mental health outcomes and more. Not only are we a coding program, MakerKids is a franchise that helps kids develop confidence, social skills, change-making abilities and a positive relationship with technology. Our programs and camps on Coding, Robotics & Minecraft have the most transformative effects on kids, helping them hone their skills and see their true potential. MakerKids mission is to create a world with more innovators, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
How can MakerKids help expose children to STEM concepts?
We run programs, camps and parties on Coding, Robotics and Minecraft, helping kids build confidence, resilience and a positive relationship with technology. We offer STEM programs for kids and summer camps where kids can explore different areas and they can choose which one appeals to them which allows them to feel empowered.
How does MakerKids work with children and parents all across the globe?
We are offering virtual programs for children Grade 1-8 with live instructors on online robotics, coding or Minecraft classes as a way to keep children engaged and learning while they are at home. Parents don’t have to worry about commuting and can have their children learn from the comfort of their own home. MakerKids offers support to run an IT test on computers or laptops prior to having the classes begin to ensure they have the right video camera and audios to engage in the class.
What led you to start MakerKids?
After spending time in the corporate world, Jennifer Turliuk was ready for a career change and wanted to make more of a positive impact with her work. She was accepted into a program based at NASA called Singularity University, where she learned to apply exponential technologies to education. She had spent time working with kids, and wanted to run a makerspace for kids in the Toronto area to empower them to have better lives and allow them to step into their innovative power. Jenn realized the current education system is outdated and CEOS say schools don’t adequately prepare kids for the careers of tomorrow. Jenn wanted to provide a place where tech-minded kids can learn vital social skills and unlock their potential by creating amazing inventions and companies. Choosing to focus on children’s personal development with the programs and camps, Jennifer is excited to share the opportunity to change children’s lives with you.
Where can parents find out more about MakerKids?
Parents can visit our website: https://makerkids.com/. There they can find different classes we offer, memberships, schedules, blogs, stories and testimonials from parents and children. We offer support through our chat where our customer service representatives can answer all questions and concerns.
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