Why is STEM So Important in Early Childhood Education?

Early childhood is perhaps the most critical moment in a student's education life.

This is the stage where a journey of lifelong learning begins. It's where a child starts to understand how the world works. And it's an incredible opportunity for educators to help learners apply the things they learn to that world that is, every day, getting bigger and bigger.

This, in a nutshell, is why STEM is important in early childhood education. It's about starting that lifelong learning journey on the right foot.

But it's also about capitalizing on the moments children are most curious, to harness their sense of wonder, and to begin sharpening cognitive development when the brain is growing faster than it ever will again.

STEM in early childhood education isn’t a new approach to teaching, but it is gaining traction as an important piece in developing well-rounded learners.

Tapping into that innate curiosity with STEM education nurtures critical thinking, helps students think about the world around them, and sets the stage for future academic success. It’s also a highly fun approach to learning, which is so important to student classroom engagement.

Ahead, we'll look at the benefits of beginning STEM education at an early age, and we'll learn why it's never too early to dive into STEM learning. 

What is STEM in early childhood education?

STEM in early childhood education is an approach to teaching that integrates science, technology, engineering, and math into early learning. 

It’s not about introducing a new STEM curriculum for kindergarten at your school. It's about integrating STEM approaches into existing programs. STEM in early childhood means more hands-on learning, exploratory activities, and lessons that tap into students’ problem-solving skills, even at an early age.

There’s no shortage of acronyms when it comes to education, but STEM is one many educators support and encourage.

The combination of four key areas of learning — science, technology, engineering, and math — STEM programs allow children to develop skills that extend beyond these specific subjects, ones that they’ll use throughout their lives.

With activities that encourage higher-level thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and gathering and processing evidence, students don’t even realize the foundation they’re establishing for themselves as they engage in fun activities that often include collaboration.

Because of the importance of what STEM can do for students, it’s never too early to begin taking part in STEM activities.

Curriculum exists for all ages, and being able to build these skills throughout their educational career helps prepare students to succeed as they enter the workforce as adults.

The Importance of STEM in Early Childhood Learning

STEM in early childhood education encourages a love of learning and promotes analytical skills. It sets a strong foundation for future success in and out of the classroom. The research is clear that STEM learning is foundational to lifelong cognitive and creative development.

It’s also a natural approach to early childhood education. Children have an innate curiosity. It makes sense to foster that curiosity and tap into early problem-solving skills with hands-on, exploratory activities.

Let’s break this down a bit. Here's the importance of STEM education in early childhood broken down by each subject:

• Science: This is where students’ natural curiosities come into play. Science at an early age is about asking why things are the way they are and how they work. Integrating science into early education is critical so students can't begin doing science from an early age. As students progress through later grades, STEM emphasizes active hands-on learning, rather than memorizing lessons. This practice needs to be instilled in students from an early age, so they are prepared to learn science by doing.
  
  
• Technology: Students begin integrating technology at an earlier age because technology literacy is important in elementary school. With technology, interactive media like digital scavenger hunts are a way to tap into student engagement. Video-led lessons are a good alternative in less tech-heavy classrooms. This all invol
  
  
• Engineering: Student engineers need to start building from an early age. In a STEM preschool, engineering can be as simple as building towers with blocks or popsicle sticks. This is a key moment for students to start learning how the world works from an early age. Support students in activities that practice innovation.
  
  
• Math: Early childhood is a critical moment to get students prepared for honing their math skills. Students can learn from an early age that math can be fun and engaging. STEM emphasizes math that is hands-on where students become problem solvers of every day problems. This is where you can bump existing math lessons up a notch with more hands-on activities that practice skills like counting, patterns, and making comparisons.

The Benefits of STEM Education

There are so many benefits to incorporating a STEM curriculum into early childhood education. Not only are students gaining exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math early, but their learning is vibrant and engaging in special ways.

"Children have an innate curiosity. It makes sense to foster that curiosity and tap into early problem-solving skills with hands-on, exploratory activities."

The excitement that comes from project-based STEM education could very well lead to more students continuing their study of any of these subjects well beyond their primary education. It also teaches them that learning is fun. This is just the tip of the iceberg though when it comes to why STEM is so important for students.

Here the benefits of STEM education for early childhood education:

• Critical thinking
• Collaboration
• Creativity
• School readiness
• Equity in access to future careers

We'll explore these in a little more detail later on. But first...why does STEM education have these benefits? Here are just some of the types of learning that lead to the benefits to STEM education.

Project-based learning

Especially in early childhood education, STEM learning provides the significant benefit of driving active learning. Many activities are hands-on, including: 

• Building something out of a set of materials
• Playing a game as a group
• Using a specific piece of technology to reach a goal

This not only makes learning fun, it becomes more memorable too. Ask any first grader what they did in school today. They won’t tell you about the worksheets they completed or the addition facts they practiced, but they’ll talk for an extended amount of time about the car they made with a toilet paper roll, straws, and some Lego wheels.

Retaining these activities may not make it obvious in the moment students have learned anything significant, but mathematical formulas and scientific rules are hiding all throughout STEM education, in addition to the soft skills students develop.

Collaborative learning

There’s nothing like a group project to get students thinking critically while working out how to meet the goals of the activity when a bunch of personalities have to come together.

This builds social skills and improves communication. Self-esteem can go up when a group succeeds. This added confidence may make it easier for those students to speak up in class, or feel more comfortable continuing to learn within that particular subject.

Talking with their peers as they work in a group also has the added benefit of improving language skills. The introduction to new vocabulary within the STEM subjects also enhances language.

They’re picking up new information, while getting to practice the effectiveness of what they say so they learn how to craft constructive sentences others will really hear.

"STEM in preschool matters because this is where students develop a foundation for being strong learners."

Developing these skills at an early age will only make group work go more smoothly as they grow and projects are assigned with more creative freedom and less teacher support.

Then there’s the professional workplace, where collaboration happens often. Knowing how to handle different personalities and to work effectively within any group (because they’re been practicing these skills since they were very young) can make a world of difference when it comes to success.

Collaborative learning also goes hand-in-hand with technology, and another student favorite, gamification. Online learning tools that present information through games can engage the whole class in collaborative play. It can open up young students to the joys of learning and the realization that there are many different ways to access information.

Interdisciplinary learning

It’s a common misconception that engaging in STEM-based activities detracts from all the subjects not included in the acronym. Of course, this points a finger at the exclusion of language arts, reading, etc. 

This couldn’t be further from the truth. What STEM really does is present ways to learn that are beyond the memorization of facts. It creates opportunities to take a more holistic approach to learning, so that one lesson incorporates many subjects rather than separating each out.

When it comes to language arts and literacy, there’s a direct correlation between science instruction and improvement in these areas.

Studying STEM can also increase executive functioning, which helps students plan, remember instructions, juggle multiple tasks, and focus. These skills are all essential to reading comprehension, essay writing, and more.

There’s also the real world element that STEM can bring into other subject areas.

Maybe the STEM project students completed in the morning focused on the design of a spaceship to study aerodynamics. Then, later in a history lesson, students read about the first successful shuttle launch. When it’s time for reading, the class sits and listens to a story about becoming an astronaut. It’s a day of space, brought into every subject.

The benefits of STEM in early childhood education

We’ve touched on the broad positive effects of teaching STEM in early education. Let’s dig into the specifics of why STEM in preschool and beyond is a great tool for student engagement and success:

• STEM develops important skills. Early exposure to STEM helps children develop skills in creativity, teamwork, and perseverance.
  
  
• It prepares students for what’s to come. It may seem like a stretch to imagine little ones in the workforce, but skills developed today build on skills needed tomorrow.
  
  
• STEM has real-world relevance. Students who learn how the world works around them are better equipped to appreciate real-world issues. It makes lessons more meaningful.
  
  
• STEM lessons are engaging. STEM taps into students’ natural curiosities and gives students the tools to question, investigate, and hypothesize.
  
  
• It turns students into innovators. STEM encourages children to come up with unique solutions to even the most basic problems.
  
  
• It boosts technological and digital literacy. Preschool STEM activities that use tech help prepare children for a more tech-driven future.
  
  
• STEM boosts confidence in all students. STEM concepts are easier to adjust for students at all levels and unique learning styles because they are so hands-on.
  
  
• Early exposure can reduce diversity gaps. STEM for preschoolers may be the first spark in student groups that are traditionally underrepresented in these fields.
  
  
• It makes students more aware of the world around them. STEM can even help foster a sense of environmental responsibility.
   
  
  

The Cognitive Benefits of STEM in Early Childhood Education

Perhaps the biggest benefit of STEM in early childhood education is its benefits to cognitive development. When we're talking early childhood, we're talking about the most critical stage for cognitive development.

During these ages, a child's brain is growing faster than it will ever grow again. This is the optimal time to introduce STEM education and the cognitive development benefits that STEM offers.

STEM specifically supports these areas of cognitive development:

• memory

• spatial reasoning

• sequencing

• executive function

With STEM in early childhood education, have a perfect opportunity to shape young minds and prepare them to be strong learners while instilling confidence and an excitement for learning.

Because STEM helps build and nurture memory, spatial reasoning, sequencing, and executive function, teachers and school districts have a shared responsibility to set students up for success with STEM learning. This approach is grounded in early learning research and brain development, so only good can come from getting students on the path to STEM education from an early age.

STEM in Preschool: Building Blocks for Lifelong Learning

Learning how to learn is something early childhood education aims to instill in children at younger ages. After all, education is not just about learning the material. It's mastering it and harnessing it for real-world applications. This means we want to foster sound learning in our students from the get go. 

STEM in preschool matters because this is where students develop a foundation for being strong learners.

In preschool, students will begin taking the important steps in a journey lifelong learning. This is where research says without any doubt that students with strong early childhood education are set up for success, not just throughout their education journey, but into adulthood and beyond.

So, how do we do it right?

STEM in early childhood education is all about active learning and developing emotions.

Here are the elements of the best early childhood education STEM curriculum:

Play-based learning: early childhood students learn best through play. Play-based learning is engaging, motivating, and fun while supporting essential skills in sharing, communicating, and problem-solving.

Social and emotional learning: children learn how to express feelings like love, joy, sadness, expand on empathy, and socialize with others, crucial milestones in early childhood development.

Cognitive and language development: introduce children to a wide range of activities that foster thinking and language skills, developing a child’s problem solving skills, vocabulary, and how comprehension of the world around them.

Intentional teaching and assessment: Teachers who facilitate learning through scaffolded interactions, regular observation, and assessment to guide instruction, rather than just delivering a set curriculum.

Consistency and routine: Predictable daily schedules that balance active play, quiet time, meals, and rest, with unhurried, positive transitions.

Warm and nurturing relationships: A "caring community of learners" where teachers are responsive, respectful, and build trust with children and families.

Cultural competent teaching and support for diverse learners: leverage students' cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and frames of reference to make learning more relevant and effective. Targeted support for dual language learners and children with special needs.

What does all of this look like in practice?

We encourage a variety of lessons and activities that help students learn the way they learn best: play-based learning and social and emotional learning. With STEM for preschoolers specifically, students need to be setup for future learning through activities and lessons that get them excited about STEM subjects.

"STEM in early childhood education taps into students’ potential for critical thinking and their innate curiosity about the world."

Since this is a critical stage where students are learning how to learn, these types of activities instill learning skills and motivation that will impact them for life.

Here are just a few fun activities for STEM in preschool that are known to help sharpen early childhood learning.

Feelings Charades

Students act out different emotions based on visual cards prepared by the teacher. Their peers guess the feeling. Some children may need some scaffolding for more complex emotions.

STEM benefits: This game encourages emotional expression, empathy, and understanding the emotions of others.

Circle Time Sharing

Use some of your regular circle time for student sharing. Have the students share their experiences or thoughts on a given topic, or have them share something positive from the day.

STEM benefits: Open communication in the classroom supports a sense of community, enhances students’ communication skills, and empowers students to share their feelings.

Read-Aloud Connections

Children’s books are a great launching pad for complex topics. Choose a book that offers an opportunity to talk about big feelings, like Today I Feel or Millie Fierce.

STEM benefits: Students make connections between literacy and their emotional skills, priming them for doing so independently as they get older.

Listening Games

Lead students in a game of Simon Says, Red Light/Green Light, or Freeze Dance that emphasizes listening carefully.

STEM benefits: Students aren’t just practicing listening carefully. They’re practicing monitoring their own behaviors and matching those behaviors to what’s expected of them.

Feelings Visuals

Help students create tools like visual thermometers or feelings wheels to help them express their emotions when they can’t seem to get the words out.

STEM benefits: These kinds of activities encourage emotional awareness and help students learn how to express their feelings visually before they can get there verbally.

How to Teach STEM in Early Childhood

STEM in preschool and beyond isn’t a readymade curriculum. It can touch different areas of an existing curriculum in and outside of science classrooms.

For example, a read-aloud of The Very Hungry Caterpillar can quickly turn into a science activity about butterfly life cycles.

You can also leave the potential for STEAM activities more open-ended. What kinds of questions do students have after the story?

Maybe an intrepid learner wants to learn about a caterpillar’s real diet. Allow children to ask all of those “Why?” questions you know are already brewing.

STEM for toddlers will certainly look different than STEM for older students, but the core is the same. It allows for space to dive into students’ questions, tinker, and answer them.

Looking for inspiration? Check out Kide Science for STEAM story-based lessons, chockfull of hands-on learning and exploration for ages 3-8.

Additional examples of STEM in early childhood education include:

• Teaching Through Play: Use STEM toys and games or existing classroom tools to tap into STEM concepts. It can be as simple as free play or building with blocks. How high can you build before a tower falls down?
  
  
• Nature-Based Activities: Take learning outside. There are natural phenomena to observe and interact with in every type of environment. This helps students develop an appreciation for the world around them. 
  
  
• Partner/Group Projects: STEM projects that require teamwork and collaboration help students across levels and learning styles work together. Students may even learn from one another along the way.  
  
  
• Classroom Centers: Create centers dedicated to STEM concepts or integrate STEM ideas into existing center work. STEMscopes Early Explorer comes with self-guided centers that are easy to differentiate for students at all levels. 
  
  
• Storytelling: Our example of a read-aloud above is a simple way to integrate STEM concepts into oral comprehension activities. Choose more books with STEM themes or find ways to tap into student curiosity with classroom favorites.
  
  
• Age-Appropriate Tech Tools: Think about technology you already have access to and how it can be used to enhance student learning. Any level of exposure to technology promotes tech literacy for students down the line.
  
  
• Classroom Guests: Our youngest learners can make the best audience for experts and professionals in STEM fields. Reach out to your local zoo, planetarium, even sewage treatment facility to spark interest in classroom investigations and these fields.
  
  
• Role Play: This can be a fun follow-up after an especially engaging classroom guest. Use role-playing activities where students pretend to be STEM professionals like scientists to model real-world scenarios in those fields.
  
  
• Field Trips: Time outside of the classroom is a great way to expand students’ STEM experiences. Look to the usual children’s and science museums, but don’t discount places like local farms and urban gardens or markets to spark student interest.
  
  
• At-Home Activities: Support from parents at home is important across the board, but try to engage parents in connection activities students can do at home. Students’ parents may also be a good source for classroom guests in STEM fields.
  
  
• Varied Assessments: Rather than adding traditional tests to students’ existing assessment loads, vary checks for understanding in STEM concepts. Try assessing children’s understanding through play activities or observed progress.

What About the ‘A’ in STEAM?

Recently, STEM education has experienced a shift to STEAM education. Without losing the benefits and value of STEM, STEAM adds in the arts. It’s not about going to art class though, it’s about increasing the soft skills a student can develop. 

With the inclusion of the ‘A,’ students have more opportunity to think outside the box.

They can use visualization strategies to look at mathematical data or artistic imagery to understand scientific concepts you can’t see in the real world.

You can even blend arts and technology through tools like a 3D printer or an infographic app.

Whether early education curriculum incorporates STEAM or STEM, the mission is the same — to build essential soft skills while enhancing interest in learning more complex topics.

The Role of Educators in Early STEM Education

Teachers play the most essential role in helping students begin their STEM journey. For early STEM success, educators have an important role to play by ensuring there is intentional instruction around STEM.

We don't just want to subtly add some STEM concepts but actually make early childhood instruction center around STEM subjects as well as prioritizing the best ways to learn STEM such as play-based learning and hands-on learning.

By making STEM education in early childhood the central focus, it sets students up for future success with these ways to learn.

Thankfully teachers have many resources and programs to help support teaching STEM in early childhood education.

For math, programs like STEMscopes Math provides early childhood education in math. For science, teachers and school districts can look into programs like STEMscopes Science, Kide Science, and Collaborate Science. 

These programs are built to support student learning in STEM from an early age and guide them all the way through their education life. 

Empowering Early Learners with STEM: Real-World Applications

STEM helps students engage with the world-- even at an early age. 

Early STEM experiences translate into real-world thinking and long-term growth. It teaches students the best ways to learn and helps them understand how the world works. It's where students begin to sharpen soft skills like problem-solving, teamwork, persistence, creative thinking, and flexibility.

Teachers know their students best, but engagement with STEM can result in even more meaningful teaching moments in the classroom. It helps the classroom feel more like a safe space for learning.

Open-ended questions can take education to new and interesting places.

STEM in early childhood education taps into students’ potential for critical thinking and their innate curiosity about the world. It can turn students into lifelong learners who want to know the why and how behind it all.

Most of all, STEM helps students see themselves as important participants in the world. And that is why STEM is important in early childhood education.