Train Problem Solvers by Giving Your Child Problems to Solve

If you want to train your child to be a problem solver, give him problems to solve. A good STEM activity to do with your child is to find a problem and challenge your child to build something to solve the problem. Whether your child ends up going into a STEM field or not, being good at problem solving is an amazing skill to have. It is nice to get your children in the habit of being a problem solver. Present them with a problem, and challenge them to create something that solves that problem.

Where To Get Ideas of Problems to Solve For Your Kids

Recently, I went to the website www.teachengineering.com. This site has a TON of resources. You can find STEM activities, lessons, and maker challenges. You can search based on the grade level and even the time required! So to find a problem for your child to solve you could go to the Maker Challenge section, and choose the grade range and time required. For example, when I put in K-5 and a time of 0 – 2 hours 15 minutes, I get 5 different activities. One of the activities is about designing a better bandage. You are given a list of materials and supplies background information, resources, and related curriculum. I highly recommend checking out this website if you want your kids involved in STEM.

Make a Back Scratcher STEM Challenge

One of the STEM activities I found on the website www.teachengineering.com was the idea to create a back scratcher. We turned this activity into a competition. My children who were ages 4, 7, and 11 at the time each created a back scratcher. We went to Dollar Tree, and I let them pick out some materials first. My husband was the judge of the competition. He judged the back scratchers based on how useful they were. My son, the 7 year old, won the competition. His is the one in the middle. Both ends of his could be used as a back scratcher. If you haven’t already guessed, the top one is my 4 year old daughter’s. He told her that all the sticks she put on it, made it somewhat difficult to get the back scratcher down your shirt, but she placed 2nd in the competition. My husband didn’t think the hair clamp worked very well as a scratcher and placed my 11 year old daughter’s scratcher last.

A Science STEM Problem Your Child Can Work On

Is your child NOT the builder type, but you’d still like to get them involved with solving problems? There are other STEM projects your child can work on besides building something. One of the things my family takes to help us stay healthy or to get over a cold is elderberry syrup. You could have your child do some investigate research about ways to boost your family’s immunity. This is an important topic. Check out the post I wrote called Encourage Your Kids to be Little Chemists by Making Elderberry Syrup. I recently bought 2 elderberry kits and plan to have my daughter make us a batch.

A List of More STEM Activities

Want More STEM Activities You Can Do with Your Kids? Check out Get Your Kids Involved in STEM Activities.

Encourage Your Child to be a STEM Problem Solver with STEM books

Do you want to encourage your kids to be little inventors? Check out the first book in a kids’ fictional STEM series that I wrote called Anna, Kid Engineer. Encourage your child to be creative, inventive, and to not give up!

You can purchase the pdf ebook on my website, or you can purchase the physical book on Amazon.

Andre, Kid Aviator is the 2nd book in the STEM series for kids. In Andre, Kid Aviator, the STEM Club Andre is a part of is presented with a problem. Check out this book to see if the club is able to solve the problem. Encourage your kids to be problem solvers! You can purchase the ebook of Andre, Kid Aviator here.

The physical book of Andre, Kid Aviator is also available on Amazon.