Never Too Young: Why STEM has an important place in early childhood education

A toddler reacts with delight at the sight of a butterfly. Another plays with dinosaur figures, memorizing the names of each. A third focuses deeply, helping an adult measure ingredients, stir batter, and make pancakes. 

Young children have an innate interest in science, because they are naturally curious about the world around them. Everything is new, mysterious, fascinating, and ultimately knowable. We need to nurture that curiosity at an early age, building the foundation for life-long learning.  

In 1999, the seminal Early Years Study, co-chaired by Dr. Fraser Mustard and the Honorable Margaret McCain, laid out the neuroscientific explanation for why learning early in life – between birth and age 5-- is so important. Children’s early experiences have far-reaching effects on the development of their brains and behaviours, including their capacity to learn when they start school. Early childhood education can help close the gap between disadvantaged children and their more advantaged peers, improve long-term health outcomes, increase the likelihood of high school graduation, and boost future earnings.  

Informed by recommendations from the Mustard/McCain study, Ontario launched the Best Start Plan in 2005. In 2011, James Heckman, a Nobel laureate in economics, published research demonstrating that high quality early learning results in a measurable return on investment for governments. In 2021, the federal government set out a new Canada-wide early learning plan. “There’s a double benefit,” says Bonnie Schmidt, President and Founder, Let’s Talk Science. “Early childhood education enables parents to return to the work force, while developing capable learners and future talent with high quality learning experiences.” 

At the same time, we have come to realize the value of STEM education in preparing young people for a technologically complex future. Scientific literacy and the other skills that STEM engagement helps develop are beneficial to individual trajectories, and to society as a whole. STEM studies help young people become informed and engaged citizens.  

Children are never too young for STEM, says Schmidt. “Research has shown that young children can do STEM, making observations and predictions, carrying out simple experiments, and making sense of what they find,” she says.  “They are, in fact, natural born scientists and a STEM learning platform supports the development of early literacy and reading skills.”  

Clearly, there is huge value in integrating STEM into early childhood education.  

Among the benefits of STEM in early childhood education identified in one report after another: 

• Fosters natural curiosity and creativity 
• Encourages independent and collaborative learning 
• Improves work habits and grades 
• Promotes confidence in learning and ‘science identity’ 
• Promotes language learning 
• Improves social-emotional skills 
• Builds decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking skills 
• Supports inclusion and reduces gender disparity

 
Let’s Talk Science supports early years STEM learning, providing training and support for early childhood educators, many of whom have limited STEM education themselves. Recently, the organization announced a partnership with the Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF) to enrich professional learning for early childhood educators. “CCCF’s partnership with Let’s Talk Science is allowing us to bring high quality STEM professional development to front line Early Childhood Educators from coast to coast to coast”, comments Robin McMillan, Innovator, Projects, Programs and Partnerships, Canadian Child Care Federation. “Educators are looking to us to bring them the leading experts in topic areas like STEM. Working with Let’s Talk Science links the STEM experts with those who work with children and their families each day.”  

“STEM in early childhood education is the beginning of a lifelong learning adventure,” says Schmidt. “We at Let’s Talk Science support increased investments to help early childhood educators build confidence and capacity in STEM.” Schmidt also encourages educators to be open to the world of STEM, and to explore new and exciting ways to bring it into the early years centres and classrooms where they work. Above all, she encourages parents and caregivers to expose young children to STEM in all its exciting forms on a daily basis, and to share their interests. “Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t have all the answers,” she says. “Learn together by playing with STEM!”