Parents, you don’t have to be a STEM guru (or a homeschool parent) to do science activities with your kids. Studies show that children who do tinker with science (and STEM stuff) at home do better in science in school and build important life skills like patience and confidence.

While you do the activity remember these objectives:

• Build science literacy: learn and use the STEM words that the activity uses
• Promote a growth mindset: if you mess up, it’s okay to keep trying
• Involve everyone: take turns and let ALL family members contribute
• Have fun: STEM can be fun (not fussy) and stress-free; remember to laugh at your mistakes

Below, check out the list of blogs and online resources that are designed to help parents do science activities at home with their families. You might even find that you like it. Don’t focus on getting everything “right” and don’t worry about the mess. STEM can be messy sometimes.

• The STEM laboratory
• Teachers are Terrific
• Momgineer
• The Maker Mom
• Smore
• Little Bins for Little Hands
• Home Science Tools

That’s it for now. There are lots more. Some of the activities can take some time to prep for (for example, creating a STEM escape room). Make the prep part of the experience. In other words, everyone helps prep (not just the parents).

Remember, have fun and keep dreaming big.

“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