In a world where kids seem to favour screens over everything else it is important that as adults we offer them a range of activities so they can find out what else they like and dislike, where else they excel and what sparks their joy. There is nothing wrong with having screen time, especially as so many careers now require tech knowledge but as with everything variety is key. An area that is as equally as important in the real world is STEM which refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, subjects that can be required in all areas of life. STEM is an approach to learning that brings these subjects together rather than teaching them separately, helping children understand how they connect to the real world and it offers so many fun opportunities that encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and critical thinking instead of just memorising facts and figures.
STEM is important for children because it develops skills that are useful far beyond the classroom. It helps them learn how to ask questions, test ideas, and adapt when things don’t go as planned. These abilities build confidence and resilience, which are valuable in any future career or everyday situation. As the world becomes increasingly shaped by technology and innovation, early exposure to STEM also helps children feel more comfortable and capable in understanding and engaging with it.
Build You Own
Build Your Own are an award winning company that specialise in eco-friendly build your own STEM toys. Each kit is made from sustainable cardboard and are great fun to build and then play with, provide hours of entertainment away from screens. They can be built by children on their own o-but are also perfect for family activities.
Build Your Own have so many kits available that you will be sue to find something that excities your child. A few examples include
- Marble Maze
- Plane Launcher
- Telescope
Build Your Own Binoculars Review
We were sent the Build Your Own Binoculars to review a set which is designed to encourage outdoor family fun, as once built you can actually use them to observe the wildlife around you in greater detail.
We built the Build Your Own Binoculars as a team, me, the 13 year old and the 6 year old. We found them to be relatively easy to build with clear instructions and the simple slot together technique. We did have a bit of difficulty getting the tubes to stay closed so we decided to build these after the frames so we could slot them straight in and that worked a lot better but other that that everything was straight forward and we had a great time working together.
As a mum it was brilliant watching the kids work together and also predicting where parts would go before reading the instructions as I could see their problem solving skills, forward planning and design skills kicking in.
I also loved the fact that the kit was mess free. All the pieces were pre cut and it came with everything we needed to make the build. There was no glue needed, no waiting for things to set, no hunting round the house for sellotape or nipping to the shop for batteries. Just simple, easy to understand instructions that sparked a lot of creativity and imagination.
The set is suitable for children aged 8+ but if you are working as a family then younger children can easily join in too, our 6 year old loved it.
Once complete the kids loved aqua green binoculars and were clearly proud of themselves. The fact that they actually worked with 6x magnification, central focus sliders and eyepiece focussing for finer adjustments was incredible.
Overall we loved the Build You Own Binocular kit and would highly recommend it as a family fun activity or stand alone activity for a child aged 8 or over. It offers STEM learning in a fun and engaging way and is perfect for screen free fun.