STEM Activities for Children: Simple, Fun Ideas to Try at Home

What is STEM and Why is it Important in Early Years?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

In the early years, it’s not about textbooks or formal lessons. It’s about:

• Exploring how things work
• Asking questions
• Testing ideas
• Learning through play

Introducing STEM activities early helps children:

• Build problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Develop early maths and science understanding
• Grow in confidence and independence
• Prepare for school in a fun, natural way

12 Easy STEM Activities for Children

Here are some simple, engaging activities you can try with your little one using items you likely already have at home.

1. Building Towers

Stacking blocks may look like simple play, but it introduces important engineering concepts such as balance, stability, and structure. Children learn through trial and error, adjusting their designs until they succeed.

You will need: wooden or plastic blocks (or cups/books) and a flat surface.

How to get started: Encourage your child to build the tallest tower they can. Start with a short time challenge (e.g. 10–20 seconds) to make it exciting. When the tower falls, talk about why it happened, building a wider base for stability, stacking evenly, and what makes a structure strong or weak.

2. Sink or Float Experiment

This classic activity introduces children to early science concepts like buoyancy and materials, while encouraging prediction and observation.

You will need: a bowl, bath, or container of water and a selection of objects (e.g. spoon, leaf, toy, stone, plastic lid).

How to get started: Before placing each object in the water, ask your child: “Do you think this will sink or float?” Test each item and talk about the results, then sort objects into “sink” and “float” groups. Ask what floating objects have in common, and whether heavier items always sink.

3. Ramp Races

This activity introduces forces, motion, and gravity in a fun and active way.

You will need: a piece of cardboard, tray, or board; books or blocks to create height; and toy cars, balls, or marbles.

How to get started: Create a ramp and let your child roll objects down it. Ask which one will go fastest, and what happens if you make the ramp higher. Top tip: try different surfaces (carpet vs wood) and compare results.

4. Nature Shape Hunt

A great way to combine outdoor play with early maths skills, helping children recognise shapes in the real world.

You will need: paper and crayons (or a camera) and outdoor space.

How to get started: Go on a walk and challenge your child to find circles (stones, flowers), rectangles (fences, bricks) and triangles (leaves, rooftops). Record your findings by drawing or taking photos, then count how many of each shape you find.

5. Colour Mixing Magic

This simple activity introduces basic science concepts while encouraging creativity and curiosity.

You will need: clear cups or bowls, water, food colouring (red, blue, yellow) and spoons or droppers.

How to get started: Fill cups with coloured water and show your child how to mix two colours together. Ask what they think will happen, watch as new colours appear, and let your child experiment freely.

6. Magnet Exploration

Magnets are a fun way to explore forces and materials through hands-on play.

You will need: a magnet and household objects (coins, paper clips, plastic toys, wood, etc.).

How to get started: Test different objects to see which ones are magnetic, then sort them into magnetic and non-magnetic.

7. Plant a Seed

This activity introduces children to nature, growth, and responsibility.

You will need: small pots or containers, soil, seeds (beans or sunflowers work well) and water.

How to get started: Help your child plant a seed and water it regularly. Place it somewhere sunny and check on it daily. Talk about what plants need to grow and the changes over time. Top tip: track growth with drawings or a simple height chart.

8. Ice Rescue Challenge

A fun and sensory way to explore temperature and problem-solving.

You will need: ice cubes or frozen blocks, small toys (optional), salt, warm water and spoons.

How to get started: Freeze toys in ice and challenge your child to “rescue” them. Try different methods and ask which works fastest and why.

9. Shadow Play

This activity introduces light, shadows, and movement.

You will need: a torch or lamp, toys or objects, and a wall or sheet.

How to get started: Shine light on objects to create shadows. Encourage your child to experiment by moving objects closer or further away or changing angles.

10. Sorting and Counting

A simple way to build early maths skills like categorising, counting, and comparing.

You will need: toys, blocks, or household items and bowls or trays.

How to get started: Ask your child to sort items by colour, size or shape, then count how many are in each group. Encourage them to compare groups using simple language such as more or less and biggest or smallest.

11. Building Challenge

Encourages creativity, engineering skills, and problem-solving.

You will need: household items (cushions, boxes, blocks).

How to get started: Set a simple challenge, such as building a bridge for a toy or creating a den, and let your child experiment and adapt their design.

12. Water Play and Measuring

Water play introduces early maths concepts like volume and measurement.

You will need: cups, jugs, spoons and water.

How to get started: Let your child pour water between containers of different sizes. Introduce simple language such as full and empty, heavy and light, and more and less. Challenge them to fill one container using another.

How to Encourage STEM Learning at Home

You don’t need a dedicated classroom or expensive toys. Small changes can make a big difference.

Keep it simple, everyday activities like cooking, bath time, and walks can all include STEM learning.

Ask open-ended questions, instead of giving answers, try “What do you think will happen?” or “Why do you think that worked?”

Let them lead, follow your child’s interests, even if it gets messy or doesn’t go to plan.

Celebrate effort, not results, STEM is all about experimenting and learning through mistakes.

Making STEM Part of Everyday Life

STEM isn’t just an activity - it’s a way of thinking. You can build it into your daily routine by talking about shapes, numbers, and textures; letting your child help with cooking or measuring; exploring outdoors together; and encouraging curiosity and questions. The goal isn’t to have all the answers. It’s to explore together.

Supporting STEM Learning at Nursery

At My Ohana, we bring STEM learning to life through play-based, hands-on experiences every day. From building and construction to outdoor exploration and sensory play, our environments are designed to spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving and build confidence through discovery.

Ready to Give Your Child the Best Start?

If you’re looking for a nurturing nursery where your child can learn, explore, and thrive, we’d love to welcome you. Explore our My Ohana nurseries or get in touch today to arrange a visit and see how we support your child’s development through play.

Get in Touch Today!