How to encourage STEM in early years

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (together known as STEM) open up exciting worlds of discovery, creativity, and problem-solving. Introducing children to these topics early helps build their confidence, fueling their curiosity and love for learning from the start.

But how can you make these complex subjects feel simple, accessible, and fun for young kids? We’re here to help by sharing easy and engaging ways of encouraging STEM in early years, making it a natural and joyful part of your child’s everyday experiences.

Why introduce STEM in early years?

Children are naturally curious. As parents, we have the wonderful opportunity to nurture this curiosity by helping them explore, discover, and better understand the world around them. Moreover, our active involvement in learning can enhance the child’s understanding of concepts, ideas, and information, preparing them for future challenges. 

Finding ways to incorporate STEM activities for early-year learning can benefit your child by: 

• Setting the foundation for learning: Children who have early exposure to STEM topics are more likely to happily engage with them in the future.
• Improving early numeracy skills: Maths can be a tricky subject that many children struggle with. Starting early helps your child develop a positive attitude toward numbers, and simple activities like pattern recognition or measuring can make maths feel more approachable rather than daunting. 
• Supporting critical thinking: Drawing conclusions from evidence, making informed guesses, and weighing different possibilities are all parts of critical thinking that’ll help your child navigate life.
• Helping communication: Talking about what they’ve learned and being encouraged to ask questions can improve your children’s communication skills. 
• Promoting collaboration skills: Grouping STEM activities for early years helps children build social skills and work well in a team, making collaboration easier for them as they age.
• Preparing for primary and prep school success: Through STEM activities and experiences, children will focus on applying their knowledge rather than just remembering it, which can give them a head start when they begin school.

Nurture STEM learning in your children’s early years 

Small, simple changes at home can easily support STEM learning. You don’t have to spend too much money or turn your house upside down to give your children a place to create and discover.

Create a STEM-friendly environment at home

Setting up a dedicated space in your home for STEM activities can make it easier for you and your children to dive into hands-on learning. It can even prompt them to explore on their own, helping their independence.

Creating playful spaces also has the added benefit of improving your child’s overall well-being. With the right mix of STEM-friendly items, you can keep your child calm and creative, making the space a source of inspiration and comfort rather than just a learning zone.

Here are some easy tips for creating an environment that supports STEM learning at home:

• Set up a small table with simple tools like building blocks, stacking cups, measuring spoons, or puzzles. STEM toys help children enjoy a more balanced play diet.
• Create a quiet space for reading and picking up educational books that tie into STEM topics. 
• Set up a designated area where they can experiment and get a little messy, even if it’s just a corner of the kitchen table or an area on the floor. You can add a plastic sheet or a washable mat to protect surfaces, giving them the freedom to explore materials and textures without worrying about making a mess.
• Decorate their room with posters or simple charts that show basic scientific principles (like the water cycle) to make learning visual. Even better, encourage them to create their own charts or drawings, which can help them better understand and remember concepts while nurturing their creativity through art.

Rocket science for babies by Chris Ferrie

Pop-up peekabo! Numbers by Doring Kindersley Limited

Jo-Jo the Wizard Brews Up Solids, Liquids and Gases (In the Science Lab) by Eric Braun

Little people, big dreams series: Women in Science by Isabel Sanchezvegara

Compost Stew by Mary Mckenna Siddals

We’re in the Wrong Book! by Richard Byrne

Integrate STEM activities

STEM activities let children explore physics, chemistry, and more in a fun, active way that doesn’t feel like a chore. 

Try adding these activities into your child’s routine: 

• Building projects: Click together Legos or stack blocks with your children to build structures and shapes. MagnaTiles are also a great resource for encouraging construction. You can also incorporate other concepts like counting or sorting during these activities. 

• Experiments: There are lots of easy science experiments where you’ll already have all the items you need at home. For example, filling glasses with varying amounts of water and tapping them with a metal spoon demonstrates how different water levels produce distinct pitches, introducing concepts of sound waves and vibrations.

• Challenges: Set fun little challenges to get your child thinking. Ask them to build the tallest tower they can without it falling over, or have them design a track using household items to keep a marble rolling for as long as possible.

• Exploration: Encourage your child to explore around them through sensory activities like feeling different textures, going on a ‘treasure’ hunt in the garden, or using a magnifying glass to inspect the world up close when on a walk. 

As we celebrate British Science Week on 7th – 16th March, you can download and print free activity packs filled with fun experiments, challenges, and creative projects designed for different age groups.

Tip: Don’t worry if these dates have already passed, as the activity packs are still available to download!

Use age-appropriate tools and resources

Make STEM learning even more fun and engaging with online resources such as:

• BBC Bitesize: Videos, interactive lessons, games, and stories. 
• National Geographic Kids: Simple articles, quizzes, fun facts, and activity suggestions. 
• Science Sparks: Printables, fun facts, challenges, and projects. 

You can also purchase books that can help with STEM learning, such as:

• Once Upon a Star by James Carter 
• First Big Book of Space by Catherine D. Hughes
• The Simple Science Activity Book by Jane Bull
• Fairy Science by Ashley Spires
• Math Curse by Jon Scieszka

Build problem-solving skills 

Try problem solving activities with your children to help them as they navigate all kinds of situations.

In STEM, teaching children to think critically through problem solving helps them break down complex problems, analyze information given to them, and apply logic to find the best possible solutions. 

But beyond that, these critical thinking skills translate into everyday life.

For example, when children face challenges in school, sports, or even social situations, they can use the same problem-solving techniques they learned in STEM activities to think through different options and make better decisions. 

It helps them approach life with a more positive and determined mindset, knowing there’s always a way to figure things out.

Encourage this approach by asking open-ended questions such as “What do you think will happen if…?” or “How can we solve this problem?” rather than simply giving them the answers or solutions.

Here’s how problem-solving skills develop at different ages and what kind of activities you can try with them: 

• Babies and toddlers (1-3 years): Problem-solving is mainly sensory and motor-based. Children enjoy activities like stacking blocks or fitting shapes into sorters at this age, which can also help with coordination.
• Preschoolers (3-5 years): At this stage, children begin to engage in more complex problem-solving. They might enjoy small puzzles or simple matching games encourage them to think through solutions.
• Reception/KS1 (5-7 years): Children start developing logical thinking and can solve more abstract problems. They might enjoy games that involve following multi-step instructions or puzzles that require them to think ahead and plan their moves.

Support curiosity and exploration

As a parent or carer, your attitudes will impact your children’s eagerness to engage with STEM learning.

For example, encouraging questions (why, what, how, when, and where) and providing thoughtful answers rather than saying “I don’t know” will spark curiosity in your child. It will encourage them to seek knowledge rather than simply accepting things as they are.

Using words that link to STEM topics is also incredibly important. Words like hard, soft, round, smooth, heavy, light, big, small, tall, short, fast, and slow help children make connections between their experiences and scientific concepts while improving their vocabulary. 

If you genuinely don’t know the answer to a question, just admit it. Turn it into an opportunity to learn together. You can say something like, “I’m not sure, but let’s find out!”

Doing so helps your child feel more confident in asking questions and exploring ideas without fear of judgment.

Creating a future of curious minds and innovators

STEM in early years can have a profound impact on your child’s life, from their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to their confidence and willingness to learn.

The best part is, STEM learning can happen at home, in the garden, during walks, or anywhere.

With the support of online resources and books, you can find endless ideas for getting your children interested in science, technology, engineering, and math subjects.

Your enthusiasm to provide your child with opportunities to build, explore, experiment, and discover will show them that the world is filled with questions, and finding the answers, learning how things work, and seeking more knowledge is a fun, rewarding experience.

At N, we value sowing the seeds of curiosity in young children’s minds, and we offer the very best UK nurseries that provide inspiring learning environments for children. 

Our efforts, along with your own at home, will create a future where children are excited to learn, explore, and innovate.