“Busy boxes” are one way to bust boredom. You can go one step further and create an at-home STEM center (AKA, a makerspace).

This special ‘center’ or space in your home does not have to be large, but it does have to fit the needs and capabilities of you and your kids, and it does have to be where they can reach it.

I recommend situating your STEM center in or near your kitchen for easy clean-up and access to water. Some of the activities do require water as an ‘ingredient’ and sometimes things get messy. Messy fun can be the “funnest”.

Do you have a home-based makerspace or STEM center? What kinds of projects have you and your crew completed? Share some successes and fails. Don’t be shy.

Here’s the STEM Dreams list of supplies that could be included in your center. Some are free (think: repurposed and recycled stuff); but others are very pricey (like a $300 3D printer). There are lots of projects that can fit any budget. Here’s my list on Pinterest of quick low-cost projects to try using recyclables.

Image source: Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

After they’ve done their lessons (thank God for school activities!), they come to you with the age-old complaint: I’M BORED.

STEM-based fun to the rescue!

Activities based in science, technology, engineering, and math principles don’t have to be “hard” and they don’t have to be expensive. Even if STEM subjects were not your favorite in school, you can be a STEM parent. Trust me, with a little preparation, you can.

What to do:

• Make up your mind to do at least one age-appropriate STEM activity or project a week. Remember, this doesn’t have to cost a lot (ideas below)
• Gather or order the supplies in one place. This can be a cardboard box, designated kitchen drawer or cabinet, or corner of your garage or closet.
• Showcase your results on social media (Use the #STEMDreams hashtag if you do)

Your goal with at-home STEM projects isn’t formal teaching. No, you will not be a STEM specialist by any stretch. Your goal is exploration together, fostering curiosity, and having fun. Resist the urge to take the hands-off approach to at-home STEM stuff. By doing at least some of the STEM activities together, you’re sending a powerful message to your child: You are worth my time and so is STEM.

Here are a few ideas to get you started with your STEM quarantine plan:

• Do a virtual tour. Many museums, zoos, National Parks, and tourist destinations have created online 3D tours of their venues. Check out this tour page from one of my favorite Smithsonian museums.
• Play a STEM Bingo game. I found this one by Googling “STEM Bingo kids”. Enjoy!
• Go fishing. Have your kids measure the fish and make a colorful bar chart of your haul. Didn’t catch anything? Try again next week.
• Bake some cookies from scratch. Make sure you let the kids do all the measuring.
• Watch a different STEM-ish Youtube video each night before bed. How It’s Made has a great series. So does Ted Ed. Keep a weekly log of what you watched and lessons learned.

How have you enjoyed STEM at home with your kids? Share in the comments below.

Oh yeah, when you get a minute, listen to our podcast series. Have you downloaded the STEM Dreams Parent Guide yet?