STEM Activities for Kids: 10 Fun & Easy Ideas

Learning through play is perhaps the most powerful way for kids to explore the world around them. It’s where curiosity meets discovery and foundational skills start to take root. STEM activities are a natural fit for this kind of learning.

Kids’ STEM activities encourage children to think deeply, ask questions, and stay engaged. Plus, they’re usually hands-on, interactive, and provide hours of screen-free entertainment, making them perfect for families, Au Pairs, and caregivers who want to support learning at home. 

Looking to introduce more learning into your child’s daily routine? In this article, we share 10 of our favorite STEM activities for kids that are simple to set up, engaging for different age groups, and easy for Au Pairs to lead. Keep scrolling to learn more!

What Are STEM Activities? (And Why Are They Important?)

Science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, are four disciplines that shape how we understand and interact with the world. From doctors and software developers to architects and climate scientists, STEM fields are everywhere. For kids, it all starts with simple activities that spark curiosity and encourage them to ask questions about how things work.

STEM activities allow kids to safely explore these concepts through experimentation and play. Each field or pillar brings something different to the table. Science encourages kids to ask questions and adjust assumptions based on evidence. Technology introduces tools and gadgets that connect the dots between ideas and real life. Engineering focuses on building and problem-solving. Math teaches kids how to measure, organize, and make sense of the world around them.

STEM activities also create space for holistic learning, which is especially helpful for Au Pairs and parents who want to support their child’s development through meaningful play. With flexible formats, STEM can fit into an afternoon at home, a weekend project, or even an impromptu kitchen experiment. Here’s how:

Encouraging Learning Through Play

The key to successful STEM activities for kids is making them fun. Some of the best learning moments arise naturally, like baking together, which can become a chance to talk about measurements, temperature, or how ingredients react. 

Au Pairs can make the most of these everyday opportunities by following the child’s lead, staying curious alongside them, and using simple activities to spark bigger thinking. That’s what makes STEM so valuable: it fits right into real life.

Building Stronger Connections with Hands-On Activities

Problem-solving brings people closer together. And STEM for kids naturally invites collaboration. 

Fun activities and experiments with your Au Pair can help kids feel confident in their capabilities and the people supporting them. Plus, they give Au Pairs a window into what excites the child, what frustrates them, and how they think, which, in turn, strengthens the relationship and creates a sense of trust that goes beyond basic caregiving.

Learning Across Cultures

Science, technology, engineering, and math are practiced all over the world, but not always in the same way. To add some cross-cultural learning to STEM activities, an Au Pair might share a math game they played growing up, or explain how their country celebrates a seasonal change with a specific science-related tradition.

This shows kids that there’s more than one way to think, learn, and solve problems. For families in the U.S., having that kind of cultural variety at home expands the way kids see others and themselves while also teaching them empathy and global awareness.

How to Choose the Right STEM Activities for Your Child

Learning works best when it feels exciting and personal, following your child’s curiosity and keeping them engaged. When activities match their interests and developmental stage, kids naturally stay involved longer and get more out of the experience. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

Consider Your Child’s Age and Interests

Activities, especially when it comes to STEM learning, look different depending on the child. Toddlers love sensory play, such as water pouring or sorting colorful objects. Preschoolers might enjoy building ramps, mixing ingredients, or using magnifying glasses. School-age kids often gravitate toward beginner robotics, simple experiments, or creative engineering challenges with LEGO or recycled materials. The key is to notice what they’re curious about and build on it.

Use What You Have at Home

You don’t need to spend money to get started. With a little creativity, things like paper towel rolls, measuring cups, string, ice cubes, and baking soda can all be great learning tools. A baking soda volcano, a homemade pulley, or sorting buttons by shape and size can teach fundamental STEM skills without spending anything extra. Remember: kids learn best through doing, not buying.

Focus on Exploration, Not Perfection

There’s no correct answer in most STEM experiments for kids, and that’s part of the magic. Allow kids to try, fail, adjust, and try again. Encourage them to think aloud, test ideas, and ask questions. When we step back and let the process unfold, mistakes and all, we’re helping kids build resilience, creativity, and confidence in ways that structured tasks can’t.

10 Fun & Easy STEM Projects for Kids (And Au Pairs!)

The STEM activities below are designed to spark curiosity and make learning fun, no complicated setup or expensive materials required. They’re perfect for Au Pairs and caregivers looking to fill afternoons with educational play while helping kids explore science, technology, engineering, and math.

Make a Rainbow with a Glass of Water

Science – Light Refraction

• What you need: A clear glass of water, a white sheet of paper, sunlight.
• How to do it: 
  • Fill the glass with water and place it near a sunny window. 
  • Hold the paper on the other side so sunlight passes through the glass and hits the paper. 
  • Tilt the glass slowly until you see a rainbow form.
• Why it’s great: This activity introduces kids to how light bends (refracts) when it moves through water. 

Build a Marshmallow Tower 

Engineering – Structural Design

• What you need: Mini marshmallows, dry spaghetti.
• How to do it: Use the marshmallows as connectors and the spaghetti as beams. Challenge kids to build the tallest or strongest tower they can.
• Why it’s great: Teaches problem-solving, structure, and how stability works in design.

DIY Lava Lamp 

Science/Chemistry – Density and Reactions

• What you need: A clear bottle or jar, vegetable oil, water, food coloring, Alka-Seltzer tablets. 
• How to do it: 
  • Fill most of the bottle with oil, then add water and a few drops of food coloring. 
  • Drop in half a tablet of Alka-Seltzer and watch the bubbles form.
• Why it’s great: Introduces chemical reactions and density in a colorful, hands-on way.

Coding with Paper Arrows 

Technology – Intro to Coding Logic

• What you need: Paper or Post-its notes and markers.
• How to do it: 
  • Draw a grid or path on paper. 
  • Draw arrows (up, down, left, right) on the notes. 
  • Have the child place arrows along the path to direct a character or toy from start to finish.
• Why it’s great: Helps kids understand sequencing, logic, and how coding gives instructions.

Create a Balloon Rocket

Physics – Propulsion and Force

• What you need: 1 balloon, 1 long piece of string, 1 straw, tape, and two chairs.
• How to do it:
  • Thread the string through the straw.
  • Tie each end of the string to a chair, pulling it tight and straight.
  • Blow up the balloon without tying it, and tape it to the straw (balloon opening facing backward).
  • Let go of the balloon and watch it shoot across the string.
• Why it’s great: This activity shows how air escaping from the balloon pushes it forward, making it an easy way to explore propulsion.

Will It Float? 

Science Inquiry – Hypothesis Testing

• What you need: A bowl or tub of water, various household items (coin, sponge, toy, crayon, etc.).
• How to do it: Have kids guess which items will float or sink, then test each one. Ask kids to hypothesize why an object does or does not float.
• Why it’s great: Encourages observation, prediction, and critical thinking.

LEGO Math Games 

Math – Numbers and Patterns

• What you need: LEGO bricks in different sizes and colors.
• How to do it: Use bricks to build simple math problems, color patterns, or compare lengths. You can also add number labels to bricks and practice equations.
• Why it’s great: Reinforces counting, sorting, and simple arithmetic. 

Water Xylophone

Sound Science – Pitch and Vibration

• What you need: 5–6 glasses, water, a spoon, food coloring (optional).
• How to do it: 
  • Fill each glass with different levels of water
  • Add a few drops of food coloring to each. 
  • Gently tap with the spoon and listen to the pitch change. Ask kids to predict how the pitch will change from glass to glass.
• Why it’s great: Shows how sound is made and how vibration changes with water levels.

Recycled Bridge Building Challenge 

Engineering – Creative Construction

• What you need: Toilet paper rolls, cardboard, tape, two chairs, and different weight items (e.g., toy cars, LEGO bricks, etc.)
• How to do it: 
  • Place two chairs next to each other with a short gap between them.
  • Challenge kids to design and build a bridge between the chairs. 
  • Test strength by adding different objects until it collapses. Ask kids why they think it collapsed and how they could reinforce it.
• Why it’s great: Teaches design thinking, material limits, and encourages trial and error.

Make a Fossil 

Biology/Paleontology – Earth Science

Fossil 1: Impression

What you need:

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup salt
• 1 cup cold coffee or water
• 1 cup used coffee grounds (optional)
• Natural objects like leaves, twigs, or shells
• Wax paper or foil

How to do it:

1. Mix the flour, salt, and coffee grounds (if using) in a bowl.
2. Add cold coffee or water to form a dough-like “sediment.”
3. Lay natural items on wax paper or foil, then press them into the dough.
4. Gently cover or press the mixture around them, then let it dry completely.
5. Once dry, peel away the objects to reveal their impressions.

Why it’s great: This activity introduces impression fossilization, where organisms leave detailed imprints in sediment that later harden, much like real fossils record ancient life.

Fossil 2: Permineralization

What you need:

• 3 clean sponges
• 3 bowls
• Warm water
• Epsom salt
• Borax
• Scissors, plates, labels

How to do it:

1. Cut sponges into shapes like bones, shells, or leaves.
2. In Bowl 1, dissolve Epsom salt in warm water until it no longer mixes and soak a sponge.
3. In Bowl 2, do the same using Borax. Soak a second sponge.
4. In Bowl 3, soak a third sponge in plain warm water (control).
5. Let all sponges dry thoroughly on labeled plates.

Why it’s great: This models permineralization, where minerals seep into organic material and harden, preserving internal structure. Kids observe how different minerals affect preservation, simulating how fossilized wood or bones form over time.

Tips for Parents and Au Pairs to Maximize STEM Fun

STEM play doesn’t have to follow a strict schedule, but a little structure can go a long way. Here are some ways to keep it engaging, stress-free, and meaningful for both kids and Au Pairs:

• Create a routine without pressure: Try setting aside time once or twice a week for STEM activities, but stay open to spontaneous moments of exploration, like building bridges with cereal boxes or spotting patterns in nature.
• Capture and reflect: Encourage your Au Pair to take photos or short videos of ongoing projects. Later, talk about what was fun, what surprised them, and what they might try differently next time.
• Celebrate the process: Focus on effort, creativity, and problem-solving instead of getting the “right” answer.
• Expand the STEM experience: Borrow library books about science topics, follow kid-friendly STEM YouTube channels, and check local museums or science fairs to learn more about topics that interest them.

Remember: the goal is to foster curiosity, not perfection. STEM activities allow kids to ask questions, try things out, and get excited about how the world works. With a bit of planning and the right mindset, these activities can become some of the most rewarding moments shared between your children and their Au Pair.

Inspire a Love for Learning with Simple & Fun STEM Activities

STEM activities for kids can fit easily into everyday routines, turning playtime into an opportunity for exploration, creativity, and discovery. From building bridges out of recycled materials to fossilizing leaves and making a rainbow right from your living room, these projects help kids connect ideas to the world around them in exciting and tangible ways.

With the support of an Au Pair, families can weave these learning moments into daily life, nurturing curiosity, building confidence, and creating space for educational conversations. Become a Host Family and find an Au Pair who supports your family’s learning goals. Explore your options with Go Au Pair today.