By Leo and Elise Silva, Owners, Engineering For Kids of Las Vegas West
As parents and educators, we’re often asked what the most important STEM skill is for children to learn. Is it coding? Robotics? Engineering? Math?
Our answer usually surprises people. It’s curiosity.
Before children can become great engineers, scientists, or even inventors, they have to be willing to ask questions – most importantly, the questions most people don’t ask. They need the confidence to wonder why something works, experiment with new ideas, and keep searching for answers when things don’t go as planned.
Fortunately, every child is naturally curious. The challenge is making sure they stay that way.
Every Question Is an Opportunity
Think about how many questions young children ask every day.
- “Why is the sky blue?”
- “How do airplanes fly?”
- “What happens if I build it this way instead?”
While you may think these questions are silly, they’re actually the foundation of learning at a young age.
Curiosity encourages children to explore, observe, and think critically about the world around them. The more we encourage those questions, the more confident children become in finding answers for themselves.
Sometimes, the best response isn’t giving your child the answer. It’s saying, “Let’s figure it out together.”
Let Kids Experiment
As adults, it’s natural to want to step in and help when something isn’t working. But some of the most valuable learning happens when children are given the space to figure things out on their own.
Whether they’re building a bridge out of craft sticks, creating the perfect paper airplane, or creating something entirely from their imagination, children learn by testing ideas, making adjustments, and most importantly, trying again.
Not every project needs to be perfect. In fact, we hope it isn’t. When kids realize they can learn from every attempt, they become more confident taking on new challenges as they get older.
Help Children See Failure Differently
Failure can be viewed in two ways. It can be seen negatively or positively. At Enginnering for Kids, we choose to view it positively. If a robot doesn’t move or a structure falls apart, we don’t ask, “Who made a mistake?” We ask, “What did we learn?” That simple shift changes everything.
Instead of feeling discouraged, children begin looking for solutions. They become more willing to keep going when something doesn’t work the first time. They may even find a better solution than the commonly known one.
Those are habits that benefit them far beyond STEM. They build resilience that carries into school, sports, friendships, and everyday life.
Curiosity Doesn’t Have to Stay in the Classroom
One of the easiest ways to encourage STEM learning is simply by making curiosity part of everyday life.
Cook together and talk about why bread rises. Build something with cardboard and see how much weight it can hold. Visit a museum, explore a local park, or challenge your child to design a better way to organize their room.
You don’t need expensive equipment or a science degree. You just need to encourage your child to keep asking, “What if?”
Curiosity Is a Skill That Lasts a Lifetime
Technology will continue to evolve. Careers will change. New industries will emerge that don’t even exist today – but one thing won’t change.
The children who ask questions, think creatively, and aren’t afraid to explore new ideas will always be prepared to succeed.
That’s why, after working with thousands of students over the past decade, we still believe curiosity is one of the greatest gifts we can help a child develop. When children stay curious, there’s no limit to what they can discover.