More and more parents are looking for ways to stimulate their children’s interest in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (collectively known as STEM fields), which is not difficult to understand. According to a study by the Ministry of Commerce, the growth rate of STEM positions has far exceeded that of non STEM positions in the past decade (24.4% vs. 4.0%, respectively), and it is expected that the growth of STEM positions will continue to maintain 8.9% from 2014 to 2024, while the growth of non STEM positions will be 6.4%.
Not only are there more new opportunities in the STEM field, but STEM workers also receive higher salaries. As of 2015, the income of STEM workers was 29% higher than that of non STEM workers. It is interesting that even STEM degree holders who do not work in the STEM field earn 12% more than their non STEM colleagues, according to research from the Ministry of Commerce.
The benefits of STEM education are obvious. So, what can parents do to help their children prepare for success in an increasingly STEM dominated labor market.
STEM Toys by Category
Preparing for the Future
According to education experts, the most important thing is not to focus on teaching children knowledge content. Nowadays, knowledge changes so rapidly, especially in the STEM field, that most information will soon become outdated. On the contrary, we need to help children become “creative problem solvers”, as Harvard education expert Tony Wagner said, which is what 21st century employers truly need – and difficult to find.
Developing skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, innovation, and confidence will help them grow into adults who can adapt to new environments and solve unfamiliar problems.
The good news is that the best way to help young children acquire these skills is simple – just sit down and let them play.
According to evolutionary psychologist Peter Gray, “free play” refers to children playing on their own with limited adult intervention, giving them “the freedom to test their limits, discover new things, figure out how to interact with others, rebound after failure, and solve problems.”
When children do these things, they are developing neural pathways that will make up their adult brain.
Besides free play, can parents use STEM toys to help stimulate their children’s early interest in science or technology? As Andrea Schwam, a blogger for Wired magazine GeekMom, believes, there seems to be reason to believe that “toys do help cultivate interests, which can turn into hobbies and then careers.”
When you consider that the skills that STEM toys aim to develop – creativity, logic, problem-solving, experimentation, and collaboration – are skills that help your child succeed in all types of academic and career pursuits, whether in the STEM field or other fields, this cannot fail. Additionally, they are very interesting – research shows that young children actually prefer toys that can help them learn.
Considering this, the following is a list of some of the best and most useful STEM toys on the market, suitable for children from kindergarten to fifth grade.
STEM Toys Parents Should Consider for Their Kids
Science Toys
Ignite curiosity with hands-on experiments. Discover science’s magic through play.
Technology Toys
Embark on a tech exploration journey. Interactive toys make learning programming and robotics easy for kids.
Engineering Toys
Inspire creativity, build dreams. Cultivate logical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on engineering projects.
Art Toys
Create masterpieces with art toys. Express imagination and explore artistic skills.
Math Toys
Solve puzzles and play with numbers. Math toys make learning equations and geometry fun.
Conclusion
Although STEM toys themselves may not turn an unwilling child into a small scientist, engineer, or programmer, no matter where your child’s interests take them, the skills provided by STEM toys – creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and confidence – will serve her in her education and future career, regardless of which field she chooses.
As recent research has found, children naturally choose toys that help them learn, and their brains are built to automatically extract information about the world from any toys or games they play with. As a parent, one of the most important things you can do for your child’s growing brain is to encourage play – and play more – knowing that every challenge and challenge he is forced to overcome during play helps him build valuable skills, which will help him become a more successful student, worker, and person.
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