11 Engaging Stem Activities For Toddlers

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This blog is all about stem activities for toddlers.

Toddlers are natural scientists and explorers! They love to explore, experiment, build things, and ask questions. 

By introducing STEM activities for toddlers we are building their critical thinking, problem-solving, and observation skills in a fun, engaging, and hands-on way! 

In this post, I'm sharing fun and easy STEM activities for toddlers. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or daycare provider you'll find these activities to be engaging!

STEM ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS

What Is STEM

For toddlers, STEM is all about exploring, playing, and discovering. When a toddler pours a cup of water into another object this is STEM! Or when they stack blocks or explore bugs. 

Science~ asking questions, making observations, and exploring nature

Technology~ using tools to solve or fix problems think magnifying glass or a paperclip

Engineering~ building things and figuring out why they work or don't work

Math~ sorting, counting, patterns, shapes, and measurements

Benefits Of STEM Activities

Besides being a lot of fun, they're incredibly valuable for growth and development in toddlers. 

Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving~ teaches them how to think through problems, try different methods, and learn from their trials and errors

Builds Fine Motor & Coordination~ pouring, stacking, sorting, and building, build those fine motor and hand-eye coordination

Builds Language~ by asking questions they learn to describe what they see, explain their thinking, and follow simple directions

Inspires Creativity & Curiosity~ encourages open-ended play, no right or wrong way, just play

Social & Emotional Development~ working with other friends, taking turns, and sharing ideas building upon each other

Lays Foundation For Future Learning~ introducing STEM early helps children feel confident and excited about learning

11 STEM Activities

Here are 11 simple and easy STEM activities you can do with your toddlers today!

1. Sink or float~ Using a container with water or a bathtub, gather items around the house and let your toddler answer if they think it will sink or float before they put it in the water. Then ask questions about the results!
2.  Build a tower~ Using paper towel rolls, blocks, oatmeal containers, cereal boxes, etc build a tower as tall as possible. 
3. Color mixing with water~ Add water and food coloring to cups. Let your toddlers mix the colors using droppers to create new colors.
4. Nature Scavenger Hunt~ Go hunt for flowers, colors, sticks, bugs, mushrooms etc. Ask about their textures, colors, and shapes. Bonus tip for added fun give them a magnifying glass.
5. Ice Melting~ Freeze small toys in ice cube trays. Give the kids water and droppers to melt the ice. Bonus tip give them salt to experiment with and see what happens.
6. Ramp Races~ Create a ramp then give your toddlers different objects to roll down the ramps having them tell you which one will go further and why. 
7. Shape & Pattern Hunt~ Go on a shape hunt around the house. Make shapes and patterns with your snacks, toys, or blocks.
8. Sensory Bin~Fill a sensory bin with rice, sand, beans, or shredded paper. Add scoops, tweezers, measuring cups, and containers. Bonus tip change out the sensory bin for themes!
9. Magnetic Or Not~ Give your toddler a magnet with items that are magnetic and not, then sit back and watch the joy come alive on your child's face.
10. Play-Doh Structures~ Give toothpicks, popsicle sticks, eyes, pom-poms, and pipe cleaners, and watch what they will build with their play-doh!
11. Water Station~ Using a container or water table provide droppers, measuring spoons and cups, sponges, and bowls. Watch them figure out how to get water from one to the other!

This blog was all about stem activities for toddlers.