Families are invited to come explore the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through meaningful, interactive learning experiences at our free STEM Adventures event on Saturday, February 23 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Please register for the free event at any of these six open Kiddie Academy locations.
You’ll see firsthand how our teachers go beyond basic activities by questioning and encouraging children to independently explore, discover, manipulate and experiment. STEM Adventures will engage children in STEM concepts via active exploration, introducing participants to the scientific process through hands-on experiences and play-based activities.
Kiddie Academy hopes to enable young learners to explore their curiosities and interests, while developing and testing theories, in everyday situations that combine learning with fun—a key component to Kiddie Academy’s Life Essentials® curriculum. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), exposure to STEM during early childhood lays the foundation for later success in school.
A high-quality STEM education program should be student-centered, innovative, collaborative, and have real-world applications. Here are a few reasons Kiddie Academy incorporates STEM into their curriculum:
1. It helps develop skills that will last a lifetime. A quality STEM program can help foster children’s creativity, encouraging them to think critically to find solutions to complex problems. It also builds other key skills including critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.These skills are vital to your preschoolers development before elementary school.
2. Students with a strong STEM foundation are likely to have more job opportunities. The STEM Diversity Network projects that STEM jobs will continue a steady increase in demand. There is already a shortage of qualified candidates for these jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3. Over time, it could help close the gender gap. As scholars and policymakers have noted, there is a disparity in the number of women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. STEM education is one way that educators are working to bridge that gap, nurturing girls’ aptitude and interest for these topics from a young age.