Summer is on the horizon, and it’s time to start thinking about what to do with the kids to keep them learning, entertained, and occupied while they’re on break! The good news is that there are plenty of activities out there to help foster your kids’ curiosity and build their interests in 21st-century skills in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Here’s quick list of STEM activities that you can do with the kids this summer.
In-Person Resources
Local libraries and science museums are a great place to start. Many have makerspaces on site, allowing kids to get creative—most of the time, for free! A makerspace is a space for hands-on learning, creativity, and innovation. Kids can build robots, play with circuits, try out 3D printers, play interactive games, and more. Bring the kids for a fun-filled afternoon of making and learning.
Online Resources
Looking for activities you can work on together at home? There are many online resources available for STEM-related projects. Instructables.com offers tutorials for anything you and your child can possibly think of making, as well as the ability to search by category or for whatever keyword you want. Pinterest is also a great resource for DIY projects.
For a more structured experience that includes a new electronics project for you and your child can work on together each month, subscribe to Thimble. You’ll get a new box filled with parts and instructions sent to your doorstep each month. It’s not only a great way to spend some time together, but the projects build on each other to help your child build real-world skills in engineering & programming. The best part is watching the lightbulbs go off! All project tutorials are available to check out here, regardless if you’re a subscriber or not.
From in-person activities, workshops, and summer camps, to hands-on tools you can use to learn together as a family in the comfort of home, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be an all-star parent or grandparent by planning a STEM-filled summer for your child!