By the time your child is 5 years old, their brain has grown to 90% of its adult size. This means that the first five years of a child’s life encompass some of the most extensive learning and growing a child will ever do. Some parents and even teachers mistakenly believe that a child’s early years should be focused on literacy and the “other stuff” can come later. While literacy certainly does impact a child’s ability to discover and interpret information, it’s only part of the puzzle when it comes to early childhood education.
Science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) education is an essential part of a young child’s education. STEAM goes beyond the classroom curriculum and teaching children an appreciation for math and technology.
Importance of STEAM and how it so Impactful
The concept of STEAM education has grown in its popularity in recent years. Activities like problem-solving, critical thinking, anticipating cause and effect, and processing information has become crucial life skills for a successful 21st-century existence. STEAM education and activities are thought to play a key role in the acquisition of language skills. When kids read books about science, for example, it can spark new areas of discussion around STEAM. And what they read, may prompt them to plan and carry out an investigation to test a hypothesis. This in turn, results in the child having discussion and sharing their hypotheses and results with one another, which develops both core literacy and comprehensive skills.
Young children also benefit from STEAM because they are naturally inquisitive and want to explore and make sense of themselves and the environment in which they live. Therefore, it is essential that STEAM is introduced to children before kindergarten, and teachers should allocate enough time to engage students in quality STEAM learning at least until the 5th grade. Teaching STEAM in early years enables children to make those vital connections between everyday life and the STEM disciplines. It also lays down the foundations for future academic success because the skills learned are transferable to other subjects.