We cannot overemphasize the importance of STEM toys to children. Ranging from infants to toddlers and even teenagers. Although a few parents are yet to know the positive impacts. But, it helps the intellectual development of youngsters.
Do Kids Need STEM Toys?
Lisa, a mother of two once enquired:
“Aside from keeping my kids busy and extending playtime, are STEM toys important to my kids?”
Like Lisa, some think it’s another version of a toy that extends playtime, which is wrong. You may ask: So what is now the importance of STEM toys to kids? STEM toys help to activate the scientific learning skills in children.
The Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics field is broad. A study by New York Times buttresses this point. Introducing STEM toys early as a regular activity helps kids a lot. It aids the development of diverse needed skills early especially “problem-solving” skills.
Read further, to find out the positive impacts STEM toys can make. Especially in the cognitive development of kids.
These toys are proven to help with
• cognitive development.
• help the brain mature.
• find simple solutions to complex problems.
What is the Importance of STEM Toys to Kids Development?
STEM toys’ benefits are enormous to the development of any child. But, we won’t bore you with what you already know. So let’s go straight to the points.
The importance of STEM toys are:
Increases Motor Skills
STEM toys not only improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills but also are good for the mind and brainpower. Kids will be powerful and more assured when they will be more exposed to motor activities. When the developments occur in large erupt, and at a quick rate, at an early age, it is better to introduce STEM toys.
IT skills, construction skills, and even self-caring abilities develop. This happens as a child uses STEM toys. They are also essential for children’s increase in movement and energy.
STEM toys enhance fine motor skills, which involve different activities. Such as solving problems, curbing conditions that can interrupt cognitive development. And, meeting a child’s developmental milestone, and increasing confidence.
They Make Learning Fun
Most kids grow to think Science, Mathematics or Engineering are boring or hard. Introducing STEM toys at an early age will make them curious to know more as they advance.
For instance: a child can have scientific knowledge of the human skeletal system. This can be from a tender age using a Detoo DIY bone assembly toy. As he/she progresses, science becomes fun to learn.
Parents need to make education and learning fun through interesting activities for their kids. That’s absolute what STEM toys do. They interlink difficult learning ideas from Science, Mathematics, and technology into easy concepts that kids easily grasped. Kids are ready to identify with problems as a learning opportunity, and that they carry this learning with them for his or her lifetime. Kids carry this learning with them for his or her lifetime, and they are ready to solve identify and solve problems as learning opportunities.
Problem-solving skill improvement
At a quick pace, it can improve cognitive learning and encourage original thoughts by STEM toys. To beat barriers, kids are encouraged to use their intelligence and think independently. Kids are open to facing hurdles confidently and also approaches problems independently.
It Develops Creativity
A creative thinker can approach any problem in life. Unfortunately, creativity doesn’t happen, it requires learning and experience.
Kids who spend much playtime with STEM toys are usually creative. Because, STEM toys need minimal creativity on regular basis though.
Also, creative skills learned by using STEM toys are long-lasting. This is due to their process of impacting knowledge.
Enhances Concentration
Most children have a low attention span. Even as they advance, some rarely stay concentrated when studying. Playtime/activities with STEM toys need an average level of concentration. As the child develops, the appropriate STEM toy he/she will need more attention.
The concentration skill learned from using STEM toys enhances better organizational skills. Also, divergent thinking to craft solutions in some areas of life.
Children’s interests and aspirations can be mold by day-to-day exposure to concepts and ideas which help them in learning. Views that contradict their abilities influence them so, it’s important to guard them against those views. For instance, if one of the parents is disliked a specific topic, subject, or discipline, the kid will also likely to urge negatively influenced. By introducing STEM with the assistance of STEM learning toys, this will be avoided. It will boost kids’ confidence and they will be hospitable to choose any topic from Mathematics and Science after realizing that they will grasp ideas associated with STEM.
Final Thoughts
Using one’s imagination to create or design anything great. It is a skill that is sought after worldwide. STEM toys are easy to learn and any child can use them with less supervision. This is to help develop a child’s mental growth.
On a final note, parents need to engage kids with STEM toys during playtime. As off-school times are when kids build habits, STEM toys are a great way to engage them.