The Roots of STEM Success: Changing Early Learning Experiences to Build Lifelong Thinking Skills

This position paper, co-authored Center for Childhood Creativity's Director Elizabeth Rood and Director of Research Helen Hadani, details the importance of exposing children ages 0-8 to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences. The review of more than 150 empirical studies led Rood and Hadani to conclude that, despite what has been previously thought, modern research supports the understanding that children are capable of abstract thinking and STEM-learning from infancy, beginning before their first birthday. The Roots of STEM Success, authored in support of classroom teachers, informal educators, experience designers, and families, offers six research-backed findings to be considered when redesigning STEM education. These findings show that formal education, informal education, and at-home learning all need to be re-evaluated for the ways in which they can help support our youngest learners to build STEM knowledge. The paper also shares practical tips for how adults can introduce children to STEM-based experiences as part of daily life.

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