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Many people still believe that engineering is a field too specialized and complex for young children. However, research shows that preschoolers naturally explore solutions, experiment, and refine their creations through everyday play activities; this is, in essence, an age-appropriate engineering mindset.
To help preschool teachers and parents overcome this misconception, KidsEdu shares several practical steps that can be implemented right away in preschool settings and at home:
·Introduce simple problems and challenges: Preschool teachers and parents can work with children to identify real-life situations for them to solve, such as “How can we pour water from a bottle into a bucket faster?” or “Can you figure out how to build a bridge for cars to cross?” Helping children identify “a problem to solve” encourages them to start thinking like real engineers!
·Prepare diverse materials and expand choices: Preschool teachers and parents should thoughtfully select readily available classroom materials—open-ended resources like paper, cardboard, wooden sticks, or corks—to allow children the freedom to combine, experiment, and create.
·Observe and ask open-ended questions: As children develop their solutions, adults should pay close attention and pose open-ended questions like “What do you think will happen if…?” or “What if you tried a different approach?” These questions encourage children to think more deeply, experiment further, and refine their designs.
·Create space for ongoing improvement: Engineering activities shouldn’t end in a single session. Allow “unfinished projects”—like bridges, towers, or boats—to be revisited and refined on subsequent days, giving children the opportunity to experience multiple cycles of design–test–revise.
These small steps help children engage in the engineering design process naturally and enthusiastically, while demonstrating that engineering isn’t too difficult when implemented in ways that align with preschoolers’ developmental stages.
Source: https://stemie.fpg.unc.edu/blog/mythbuster-series-5-engineering-is-a-highly-specialized-skill-and-too-difficult-for-young-children-to-comprehend/
