What is STEAM?

STEAM might sound like another modern education buzzword, but the idea behind it is wonderfully simple: children learn best when different skills and ideas work together.

Rather than treating these as five completely separate subjects, STEAM encourages children to explore how they connect in the real world.

Think about an architect designing a building. They need mathematics to measure, engineering to make it stand, science to understand materials and technology to help bring the design to life. But they also need creativity and an eye for design. That's where the Arts come in.

And that's really what STEAM is all about. Curiosity, creativity and problem solving working together.

Why STEAM matters for kids

STEAM isn't about turning every child into a scientist, engineer or mathematician.

It's about helping children develop the skills they'll use wherever their interests eventually take them.

Through STEAM play, children can develop:

  • Critical thinking
  • Creativity
  • Problem solving
  • Innovation
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Planning and time management
  • Confidence
  • Persistence and resilience

Perhaps most importantly, STEAM encourages children to wonder, experiment, make mistakes and try again.

When a tower falls over, they can work out why. When an experiment doesn't produce the result they expected, they can change something and try again. When they have an idea, they can figure out how to turn it into something real.

Those little moments of discovery are STEAM learning in action.

STEAM doesn't have to feel like learning

You don't need worksheets, lessons or complicated experiments to introduce STEAM at home.

  • Building a magnetic tile tower involves engineering and mathematics.
  • Mixing colours brings together science and art.
  • Growing crystals introduces chemistry and observation.
  • Completing a logic puzzle develops mathematical thinking and problem solving.
  • Building a robot introduces engineering and technology.

Even asking "What do you think will happen if...?" can turn everyday play into an opportunity to investigate and discover.

The goal isn't always to find the correct answer. Sometimes the most valuable part is giving children the freedom to work it out for themselves.

How parents can support STEAM learning

You don't need to know all the answers either.

In fact, one of the best ways to encourage STEAM thinking is to be curious alongside your child.

Ask questions. Wonder what might happen. Encourage them to test their ideas. Let things go wrong. Resist the temptation to immediately show them the "right" way to do something.

Try questions like:

  1. What do you think will happen?
  2. Why do you think that happened?
  3. What could you change?
  4. Is there another way we could do it?
  5. What would happen if we tried this?

A child who learns that it's okay not to get something right the first time is also learning to experiment, problem solve and keep going.

And that's a pretty powerful thing to learn.

Find their way into STEAM

Some children will be fascinated by experiments. Others want to build. Some love numbers and puzzles, while another child might discover STEAM through drawing, making or creating.

There isn't one right place to start.

That's why we've made STEAM at IQM Store easy to explore across Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, with toys, games, kits and activities that encourage children to learn through doing.

Whether they're building their first structure, experimenting with chemistry, solving a tricky puzzle or creating something entirely their own, you're giving them more than something to play with.

You're giving them opportunities to question, create, discover and work things out for themselves.

[Shop STEAM]

Explore toys and activities for curious minds.