Why STEAM Education Is Universally Beneficial for Kids blog featured image

Why STEAM Education Is Universally Beneficial for Kids

Your child doesn’t have to be a Baby Einstein or the next Neil deGrasse Tyson to benefit from a STEAM education. And if they’re naturally drawn to science, there are huge benefits to ensuring that art is part of their education, too. Besides generating better test scores, an improved sense of well-being, and lots of fun, a well-rounded STEAM education can help children succeed in both school and real life by combining the scientific method with the creative process. How does one simple philosophy accomplish so much? The interdisciplinary STEAM approach simultaneously develops a variety of skills in project-based learning episodes: critical thinking, innovative problem-solving, communication, and technological literacy are often all required in order to achieve the lesson’s goal. Here’s a quick-and-dirty explanation of how STEAM develops each of these skills and why they’re important for kids:

Critical Thinking

Three girls assembling structures with marshmallows and toothpicks Critical thinking is the ability to analyze facts and draw conclusions. At a basic level, this could mean understanding that backtalking (a cause) results in losing television privileges (an effect). At higher levels, it involves more skillful deduction and educated guessing. In STEAM education, critical thinking is central to every lesson. The scientific method can introduce children to simple cause-and-effect relationships, but it can also demonstrate more complicated chains of reaction. An artistic approach may also teach students that mixing yellow and blue creates green, eventually empowering them to mix more nuanced shades through experimentation. Critical thinking skills are a huge benefit. They help children produce better test scores, and they may even help them maintain interest in learning materials. Beyond the classroom, critical thinking also enables kids (and adults) to screen for biases in the media they consume. It also improves productivity in analytical activities such as reading medical charts and maintaining personal finances.

Problem-SolvingFour kids pouring paint on a canvas

Problem-solving requires both critical thinking and creativity. To solve new problems, a child must be able to invent equally new solutions. STEAM lessons require innovative problem-solving in variety of ways. Artistic prompts are often open-ended and can be interpreted broadly, encouraging students to think creatively. Even science projects require a healthy amount of creativity—for example, what are the optimal conditions for growing a sunflower? Students must decide what variables to manipulate (water, sunlight, fertilizer, singing to the plant…) and by how much in order to answer their scientific questions. Problem-solving skills will carry kids far both in school and beyond. They can help students figure out questions on the state tests that they didn’t quite cover in class or win them a prize at the school science fair. Problem-solving is also at the root of modern entrepreneurship and many tech companies that seek to streamline everyday tasks or solve emerging issues.

Communication

Five kids working on a project around a tableEffective communicators simplify big ideas into chunks that are easy to understand. Sure, there are rules of grammar and spelling—but ease of understanding is equally important. Good communication may also include persuasion, emotion, and building trust, especially in leadership roles. Because STEAM learning is often project-based, students often work in groups. This requires division of tasks and integration of many different ideas. Kids learn how to negotiate for the roles that they want, resolve conflicts, and present results to the class. Communication is a powerful exercise in collaboration with extraordinary results. Good communication skills look very similar across all stages of life and across all industries. Whether writing a college admissions essay, pitching a sale to a potential client, or delivering a keynote speech at a conference, effective communication is a vital step to achieving meaningful goals. Even parenting requires a daily communication workout!

Technological Literacy

Boy typing on a laptop computer Personal computers, the internet, smartphones, QR codes—these are technological marvels that are now integrated into the average person’s daily life. Whether you and your child are early-adopters or technophobes, it’s clear that a certain level of skill with technology is essential to modern living. And depending on your occupation, you may deal with even more complicated technology on a daily basis! STEAM cultivates the adaptive skills required to learn new technology. While your child learns how to use GPS and humidity sensors during science fieldwork, they’re building the neural pathways that will help them quickly learn Photoshop or GarageBand. They’ll process data in Google Sheets and design posters to present their results in Canva. Each new technological skill prepares students for life outside of school. While your child may complain, “But when will I actually use geometry in real life?” you know that they will definitely use high-tech tools or computer software every day in their adult life.

How to Add STEAM to Your Child’s Education

If your child needs more of the benefits of STEAM in their current education, you can add it by enrolling them in an after-school program like those offered by IDEA Lab Kids. Subjects range from robotics to culinary arts, so there’s a program for your child no matter their interest! You can explore some of our programs in the IDEA Lab Kids Handbook or learn more on our ILK Facebook page. Find your nearest IDEA Lab Kids location and let’s get started!

How to Have the Best Summer Camp Experience in 2021

As the days start to get warmer and longer, one thing is on every parent’s mind: summer camp.

Summer camp is a brain puzzle just about every year.

Which camps fit around our family vacation? Can we drop the kids off early before work? Is swimming, space camp, and archery way too much?

But the continuing effects of COVID-19 make things even more complicated for 2021.

To help you prepare, we’re answering all your big questions so that you can plan the best summer camp experience for your child this year.

Is summer camp even a “thing” this year?

Yes! Although things will still be a bit different from a “normal” year, many day camps will be up and running.

And while some classes and camps may still be conducted virtually, plenty of in-person camps are taking action to make sure that your child’s summer camp experience is as safe as possible.

Many camps qualify as childcare services, so they’ll remain open as essential businesses. Depending on your location, you may have access to in-person summer camps even if your child’s school was conducting either virtual or hybrid learning

How will the vaccine impact this summer compared to last summer?

Because broad medical studies are more difficult to perform with children than adults, the FDA hasn’t yet approved any of the current vaccines for children.

Studies are underway and could get the vaccine approved for kids in time for the 2021-2022 school year, but kids won’t be able to get vaccinated before summer camp.

This doesn’t necessarily put them at higher risk. Most summer camps will still be maintaining small class sizes and other safety measures.

But the increased availability of the vaccine for adults means that more parents will be returning to work and in need of childcare—probably more than last summer. Summer camps may be in higher demand and fill up faster, so you’ll need to enroll early before they fill up.

Finally, vaccinated adult populations will also help keep kids safer. When adult family members and caregivers get vaccinated, kids’ overall risk of contact with the COVID-19 virus is lower.

What safety precautions should I expect from summer camps?

In addition to recommendations for regular businesses, the CDC has published a set of health and safety guidelines specifically for summer camps.

Camp-specific recommendations include mask-wearing, handwashing, and physical barriers for distancing. The CDC also recommends frequent sanitization, visitor limitations, and posters to remind children of safety practices.

These safety practices are meant to be used with local regulations. If your region has stricter (safer) policies, summer camps will abide by the safest guidelines.

Although each ILK location is franchisee-owned, all of our facilities have been instructed to follow CDC and local guidance to maximize your child’s safety.

What kinds of summer camp opportunities will my child have?

Many summer camps will be offering full-day and half-day camps with a variety of class experiences. Most sleepaway camps will likely be cancelled, either by state and local regulation or by self-regulation.

This summer, ILK will be offering 76 different programs in science, technology, engineering, the arts, math, and more. From astronomy to theatre, and robotics to cooking, there’s something fun for every kid all summer long.

Parents and kids should expect some procedural changes this year. These will help maximize health and safety without compromising fun or learning at camp! Check-in and check-out procedures will be more distanced, classes will be smaller, and handwashing and mask-wearing will be enforced. 

But even with these adjustments, camps across the country will still offer great classes for a fun, active, and enriching summer camp experience.

What else can I do to keep my child safe?

The best way to make sure that your child observes safe and healthy practices at camp is to model them at home. Teach and practice handwashing, mask-wearing in public, sanitization, and physical distancing. Your child is likely to mirror whatever you do.

Other than summer camps, other activities can also keep your family active and engaged. Enjoy distanced outdoor activities like biking, hiking, and sports/games that can be played at a distance. It’s generally safer to avoid contact sports like basketball and football, even if everyone is outside and masked.

And finally, check out our online programs to keep rocking your gray matter from home! Our STEAM @ Home newsletter brings a curated selection of activities straight to your email inbox.