How the Children's Creativity Museum helped me embrace STEAM

I have to admit, I was not a big fan of the recent trend to add "Art" to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  When I was in college, art and dance were my outlets to take a break from engineering classes.  I wanted a separation and distinction between them.  But the Children's Creativity Museum in San Francisco has enlightened me to the errors of my logic.

We just visited this museum with our 2 and 5 year old.  We had not taken my son when he was younger, because he was not into craft projects, but I know now that this museum has something for every kid.  

There are small motor skill activities like clay, cutting, gluing and coloring (Perfect for my perfectionist two year old).  But there are also plenty of large motor activities like giant blocks, outdoor obstacle course and Legos (just enough to balance the energy of my 5 year old).  Some of the stations were free play, while some of them had themes or suggestions, like creating a "nature" collage or using alien figures for an animation video.  One of my favorites, from an engineering perspective, was the Mystery Box Challenge.  Each family or group gets a box of random scraps of material (string, paper, foam, etc) and a "challenge."  Ours was "Playground for elephants."  My son immediately started gluing things together.  I wanted to brainstorm, create a plan and split up tasks, but I eventually let it go and embraced the random building.

My daughter's favorite?  Princess dress up and Frozen karaoke.  I have the video to prove it.  You can actually choose from a number of kid songs, but "Let it Go" was on heavy rotation. 

My son's favorite?  Programming robots.  Seriously, my 5 year old was programming.

They had a really kid friendly setup with different robot stations that played music, rolled through an obstacle course or made drawings.  They use child-proof iPads to control them, with either a simple interface or preset programming blocks.  Made me wish I could be a kid in this generation, rather than being stuck with Oregon Trail and Basic functions on my TRS80.

So I am now a believer in the power of combining Art and STEM.  It is all about creating something to solve problems, emphasis on CREATIVE.

Bring on the STEAM, especially when robots and princesses are involved. 

The Children's Creativity Museum is at 221 4th Street, San Francisco.  Walking distance from the Powell St. Bart station.  Admission is $12/person;  Open 10am-4pm Wed-Sun (www.creativity.org).  Look for discount tickets through your local library Discover & Go program.

There is also a Carousel ($4/2 rides, discount with museum admission) and free outdoor playground next door.  For older kids, there is an ice skating rink and bowling alley in the same complex.  Plenty of food places are in the nearby Metreon and along 4th street.

YOU are an engineer

en-gi-neer  [en-juh-neer]

noun;  A person trained and skilled in the design, construction and use of complicated products, systems or structures.

Engineering is a difficult field and requires a strong understanding of math and science, but in the real world, there are everyday engineers that do not have formal training, yet "engineer" complex systems on a daily basis.  I call those engineers Moms (or Dads).

Don't get me wrong.  I do not mean to denigrate the intense technical training and experience that I have as an engineer.  The work I and other formally trained Mechanical engineers do may be on a bigger scale, but parents use similar skills and tools to improve their household. 

Just because you do not have a degree in Mechanical engineering or studied a bunch of Physics classes, does not mean you are not Engineering solutions using science and systems every day.  

Think about it...

Have you ever helped your children build a better fort by supporting the walls with extra pillows?

Then you have used physics to spread out the force to balance a structure.

Even creating and managing a meal that your family will eat is a complex process that I have yet to master, let alone replicate on a daily basis.

Have you ever combined ground beef with a liquid to make a burger stick together better?

Then you have used chemistry to break down the collagen to gelatins.

Have you ever made an awesome treat like jello or popsicles?

Then you have used chemistry to change the phase of a liquid to a solid.

Call them Mom Hacks; call them survival tactics;  call them whatever you want, but you are solving problems every day.  Take a moment to be proud of yourself and recognize the engineer in you.

Now how do you get your kids to recognize the engineer in themselves?  Challenge them to ask questions and look for their own solutions to problems.  One of the best ways to do that is for them to follow the Scientific Method:

1.  Observe (Recognize the situation and define the problem)

2.  Make a hypothesis (Identify an idea of how to solve the problem)

3.  Test (Create an experiment or method to try the solution)

4.  Review results (Whether the results are what you expected or not, you can learn from them)

5.  Start again with a refined observation and problem statement (do not give up, this is a continuous cycle.  A failed experiment is not the end; it means it's time for another experiment.)

Remember, you are an engineer too, so share your experiences of how you have tested and learned from your trial and error.  You may not know the official science behind everything, but you know what works and does not in the world around you.  It is practical experience.

I am proud to be an Engineer by training, but I am even prouder of my "engineering" feats in the house.  My goal is someday we will all state with pride, Mom is an Engineer!