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Marching Into STEM and Creativity
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
March holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. It's a month brimming with the promise of spring and other meaningful festivities like March madness, spring break ... oh, and my birthday 🥰. One of the month's most notable highlights is St. Patrick's Day. A day set aside to honor the patron saint of Ireland, also known as the patron saint of engineering. St. Patrick is known for introducing Roman architectural engineering and innovations, such as stone churches and roads, to Ireland. When my husband was studying engineering at Mizzou, we used to attend the St. Patrick's Day Gala every spring— a fun twist to your typical St. Patty's Day celebration, especially for two broke college kids.
In the spirit of celebrating engineering—and, of course, St. Patrick—this month’s newsletter explores how shifting from passive tech-use to hands-on STEM experiences can strengthen executive functioning skills and help build a growth mindset. We’ll hear from an experienced math educator, highlight amazing free STEM resources for parents and teachers, and take a 40,000-foot view of a few supplements that may help minimize ADHD symptoms.
After 12 long weeks of snow and ice, I’m hoping March skips the lion-like behavior and brings plenty of sunshine. Happy almost spring, everyone… now, let’s talk about math!
With A Grateful Heart,
Jodie Maddox, Parent Coach and Education Consultant
Switching Gears: Replacing Passive Screen Time with STEM Learning Opportunities
You're not alone if you feel overwhelmed by the abundance of advice you must plow through to decide how to manage your child’s screen time. As a parent tasked with setting digital boundaries, you might feel like you are trying to build a plane while flying it simultaneously.
Excessive screen time in children and teens has been shown time and time again to have multiple negative effects on their development. A recent article titled "Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management" (Muppalla S, Vuppalapati S, Reddy Pulliahgaru A, et al., June 2023) closely examined the impact of early exposure to digital screens and passive technology viewing in children. The authors discussed how excessive screen time is associated with lower cognitive abilities and language development, which in turn can lead to underdeveloped social skills, obesity, sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety. Too much technology can also impair emotional regulation, encourage aggressive behavior, and hinder social and emotional competence.
Instead of trying to avoid screens altogether, what if we replaced passive, unproductive screen time with purposeful activities that support brain health and development? Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities can actually counteract the negative effects of passive viewing on the brain. STEM activities are a powerful way to strengthen executive functioning skills, such as planning, prioritizing, memory, focus, flexible thinking, and critical thinking. When actively engaged in STEM activities, children learn to set goals, organize their thoughts, and manage their time effectively. These activities also enhance working memory by requiring students to recall instructions, formulas, and problem-solving steps, as seen in robotics and engineering challenges. By participating in STEM, children gain technical knowledge and build essential cognitive and life skills that prepare them for success in school and beyond.
In my 30 years as an educator, I have had the joy of working with some of the most talented teachers in the field. Since we're celebrating all things STEM this month, I’d love to introduce you to an educator who is passionate about math and STEM.
Meet Lee Ann Ochs, an inspiring wife and mother of six (ages 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, and 20), who holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mathematics. Certified in Math (6-12) and Special Education (K-12), she has spent 20 years teaching high school math, covering every course—including AP Statistics! She has a wealth of insight and creative strategies for making math fun and engaging for all ages. I asked her for a few tips and her thoughts about how to make math a typical part of our everyday routine. Enjoy these thoughts from Lee Ann 🥰
Why learn math? Shhhhh! It’s a secret……it’s not so you can grow up using it in the real world.
Understanding how the world works is a natural curiosity, especially for children. Math gives us a deeper look into creation—from the tiniest electron to the vast universe—helping us glimpse the mind of our Creator. So, how can adults help children develop a mathematical way of seeing the world? It doesn’t take much! Here are a few simple ways to make math part of everyday life:
Math Facts
Mastering math facts frees up brainpower for more complex thinking, and it can be fun! Try playing WAR with a deck of cards:
Ages 4-5: Regular WAR—highest number wins.
Ages 5-7: Double WAR—each player draws two cards, and the highest sum (or difference) wins.
Ages 8-11: Double WAR with multiplication (or division).
Ages 12+: Same as above, but reds are negative, and blacks are positive!
Fractions
The kitchen is the perfect place to explore fractions!
For younger kids: Use measuring cups to experiment—how many ¼ cups make a whole?
How many ⅓ cups make 2 cups?
How many ounces in a cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup?
For older kids: Double or halve a recipe. CHALLENGE: Can they make it using only a ¼ cup?
Analog clocks also reinforce fractions—phrases like “quarter till” or “half past” connect time to math.
Help make the connection between the minutes and hours and the portions of the circular clocks.
Road Trips
Turn off the screens and play math games on the go!
Count by multiples.
Try multiplying large numbers in your head.
Make up mental math games.
Spot "math times" on the clock (like 1:23, where 1+2=3).
Estimate arrival times based on speed and distance. Can they get within 10 minutes? Down to the minute?
Teach map skills. Plot mileage and mile markers. Learn about directions north, south, east, and west.
A “Let’s find out together” attitude is the key to nurturing math curiosity. It’s okay not to know the answer—what matters is showing that learning is worth the effort. By exploring math with our kids, we rediscover its beauty and deepen our connection with them.
STEM Resources - FREE For Your Parents and Educators
Science Buddies
Offers a vast collection of hands-on STEM activities suitable for various age groups, including experiments, engineering challenges, and demonstrations.
National Inventors Hall of Fame®
Provides free STEM activities such as creating a Morse Code bracelet, exploring carbonation chemistry, and building a solar oven.
Little Bins for Little Hands
Features a variety of STEM resources, including lesson ideas, curriculum guides, and free STEM kits for preschoolers to elementary students.
The Homeschool Scientist
Offers over 65 STEM activities for kids, covering topics from physical science to engineering, with easy-to-follow instructions.
CodeMonkey
Provides online STEM activities that teach coding through fun, monkey-themed games suitable for children aged 5-14.
Provides over 400 free lesson plans covering various STEM topics, complete with building instructions and required sets.
Features a variety of hands-on activities designed to teach children about science, technology, engineering, and math using LEGO bricks.
Supplements That May Help Symptoms of ADHD
When working with parents, I am often asked about using various supplements to help with attention span, impulsive behaviors, sleep issues, memory, and overall brain health. The following four supplements are the most commonly used or prescribed by practitioners. Always consult your doctor before starting a new supplement, especially if your child is taking other medications.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Essential for brain health, omega-3s have been shown to improve attention, reduce hyperactivity, and enhance cognitive function in individuals with ADHD.
Melatonin: This hormone regulates sleep-wake cycles and can be beneficial for individuals with ADHD who experience sleep disturbances. Melatonin supplementation has been shown to decrease the time it takes to fall asleep and improve sleep duration.
Zinc: An essential mineral that plays a role in brain neurotransmitter function and melatonin production, both of which are important in ADHD. Some studies suggest that zinc supplementation may help reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity in individuals with ADHD and low zinc levels.
Magnesium: An essential mineral that helps create cellular energy, playing an important role in the proper functioning and structure of brain cells. Low magnesium levels are associated with lower cognitive ability, processing, and attention span, as well as increased agitation, fatigue, and lack of concentration.
Health Magazine By Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH Published on September 11, 2024
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