STEAM Curriculum in Early Childhood Education
April 23, 2021
Early childhood education is essential in a young child’s foundation and preparing them for a successful school career. Giving children the opportunity to learn, explore, and collaborate with others through preschool and other early learning programs helps with their cognitive, emotional, and physical development. STEAM has become an important curriculum in developing these lifelong skills and preparing children for Kindergarten and beyond.
What is STEAM?
STEAM is a holistic, project-based curriculum that sparks students’ imagination and develops their real-world skills. STEAM education focuses on incorporating science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics when teaching and working with children. Although these topics seem advanced and complex to teach young preschoolers, STEAM provides early exposure to these subjects and helps build a strong foundation for future learning. Young children are naturally curious, and as they are exposed to new things, they begin to become more involved in learning experiences that can prepare them for the next steps in life.
Benefits of STEAM
Incorporating a STEAM-based curriculum in early childhood education has many benefits in the development of young students.
- Drive Creativity: Children mainly learn through play and projects, which spark students’ imagination. Early Childhood Educators work to integrate STEAM into activities that are appropriate and effective for the age group and development level that encompass multiple topics and subject areas, encouraging creativity. Creativity does not just apply to the “A” (Art) in STEAM, but to each subject. Educators also use projects to instill creative thinking in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
- Encourages Collaboration & Teamwork: STEAM activities provide preschoolers with a natural environment for collaboration and communication. Children work together to finish a project or solve a problem. These activities and projects help foster social development in young children while building a love of learning.
- Develops Real-World Skills Directed at the Future: With today’s digitally driven world, there is a need to support technological innovation, and to do that, we need individuals educated in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Exposing children early to these important topics sets them up for success in the future.
At Les Enfants, we incorporate the STEAM curriculum into our classrooms through developmentally appropriate activities and projects. We encourage our students to learn through play and exploration, thinking critically, and being innovative and creative. Contact us to schedule a tour and learn more about our curriculum at (201) 592-6695.
