Keeping Kids Interested in Science and Math

September is here, and in Waltham, home of EDC’s headquarters, schools have opened their doors for a new year of learning. This past summer, I tried to find ways to keep my kids engaged in learning about the world around them. As the school buses hit the road, I’m still working on this—particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM as it is referred to in education circles.

I’m not alone in this. Given the focus on STEM education in schools these days, I find that my friends with children have many questions about how to support STEM learning. In my evaluation and research work at EDC, I’ve discovered some interesting STEM projects, programs, products, and initiatives. I’ve mentioned these to friends, but I believe it is also important to share them with a wider circle of parents who are interested in knowing about opportunities for their children.

Following are a few of the many initiatives developed by my EDC colleagues. I encourage you to check them out and see if any resonate with your kids’ interests.

1. Young Mathematicians

My kids loved the book Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews when they were in preschool, and I wish I had known about this great dot card game from the Young Mathematicians (YM) project to use with them back then!

• See the full list of YM games and suggested published books to help your family explore math.
• Learn more about the YM project by watching this video.

2. Early Math with Gracie and Friends™

My kids are always asking to play apps on my phone. The Early Math with Gracie and Friends app focuses on essential math skills, and it was a big hit when my son Ben was 4.

• Take a look at this video highlighting all the great work from the Next Generation Preschool Math project.
• Learn more about the research findings from this project.

3. PEEP Family Science

What I love about the PEEP Family Science project is its focus on family engagement. Families can do science together at home using fun, free, and easy-to-use apps, which are available in English and Spanish.

• Watch this video to learn more.
• Check out what has been learned from the research.

Tracy McMahon is a research associate at EDC.