STEM refers to the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Because young learners like preschoolers are naturally curious, you can encourage their learning, growth, and curiosity in the classroom by introducing them to these STEM subjects, concepts, and skills through play and exploration.
Throughout this article, we’ll take a look at the main benefits of STEM for your preschool child, and how we at LANNA incorporate STEM learning everyday in our Early Years Programme.
The Main Benefits of STEM in Preschool
The reason why STEM has become so talked about and important for schools and students is because focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math concepts helps children learn very valuable life skills that are essential for their future learning and eventual career. When you focus on teaching young learners about STEM subjects, they learn to explore the world and develop skills that propel them forward into primary school. By fostering these skills and taking a STEM approach to learning, students benefit in the long run. The main benefits of learning STEM in preschool are that students improve on important skills such as:
- Critical Thinking
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Collaboration
- Independent Exploration
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Curiosity
How we Incorporate STEM Learning in the Preschool Classroom at LANNA
At LANNA, we want your child to get a head start in their education so that they are set up for a successful future. In order to help them thrive, we focus on incorporating STEM learning in our Early Years Programme. From the age of 2, we support your child’s education and development in the STEM areas by encouraging them to play and explore the world around them, asking them questions about what they are observing or doing, and supporting your child’s curiosity and creativity by:
- Asking them how or why things work the way they do.
- Integrating math concepts throughout everyday life, like pointing out shapes outside or counting the amount of rocks they’ve collected.
- Encouraging them to take in the world around them and asking them, ‘what do you see, feel, hear, or smell?’
- Following their lead by finding out what they are interested in and encouraging them to continue to explore these interests.
- Constantly asking them open-ended questions that encourage conversations like, ‘why do you think each cloud is a different shape?’
- Teaching them patterns and repetition by singing songs and reading books.
- Encouraging them to constantly play with objects and toys, touch new textures and examine everything they see and how it all fits together.
- Showing them how to observe and effectively communicate throughout their day.
- …and so much more!
All of these activities are in some way an exploration or introduction of the main STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) in our Early Years Programme. It doesn’t have to be complicated. At LANNA, we take a simple, but effective approach to STEM so that your young learner becomes familiar with exploration and thinking critically.
Additionally, students in our Early Years Programme are introduced to the Engineering Design Process. This helps them develop solutions identified in the real world, and teaches them about programming through robotics and coding games. These activities help your child strengthen their logic and critical thinking skills while also supporting their technology skill development.
By using these methods, we help ensure students are better prepared for primary school learning, strengthen their soft and hard skills, and expand their minds.
Are you interested in finding out more about how we approach STEM learning in early childhood at LANNA?
Contact our admissions team or book a personalized school tour:
