Baby Steps to Stem - by Jean Barbre (Paperback)

About the Book

Give your child a head start by building a STEM foundation with fifty everyday, play-based activities for infants and toddlers

Book Synopsis

Give infants and toddlers a running start with a foundation in STEM

Innately curious, infants and toddlers love to explore, investigate, and discover--making the earliest years a perfect time to begin teaching the foundations of STEM. This book defines what science, technology, engineering, and math education looks like for this age group, and why it is so vital for children to develop STEM knowledge. Expand your understanding of STEM to lay the foundation for children to develop skills in critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

This book supplies fifty play-based developmentally appropriate activities for introducing STEM. All activities include extensions, inquiry questions, and tips on how to help parents strengthen children's learning at home.

Review Quotes

"Baby Steps to STEM offers a user-friendly format valuable for caregivers and parents with 60 play-based activities that promote STEM learning. This book is a refreshing look at joyful learning that lays the foundation of our 21st century leaders of tomorrow."
--Mary Lynn Hess, NSTA Recommends
"Baby Steps to STEM's high quality of writing and excellent organizational structure are a pleasure to behold, while the insights and activities that grace page after page make it an indispensable resource every parent, teacher and caregiver should read."
--Tillywig Brain Child Award
"Baby Steps to STEM is a valuable resource for parents and caregivers; essentially all adults who are a part of young infant or toddler's life. It provides practical strategies, and thoughtful examples which illustrate the back and forth interactions between adults and young children that stimulate wonder, curiosity and communication."
--Christina Nigrelli, senior director of programs, ZERO TO THREE
"In Dr. Jean Barbre, young children, and those of us who serve as their caregivers and teachers, have long had an amazing and tireless ally. Now with her book, Baby Steps to STEM, we have an equally valuable resource. Straightforward and readable, this book will improve your practice--helping to provide meaningful and joyful STEM experiences to our youngest learners."
--William Straits, PhD, professor of Science Education at California State University Long Beach, and director of A Head Start on Science
"Baby Steps to STEM is a must read for any early childhood teacher who has watched young children experiment. Jean Barbre helps us to create joyful experiences for young children that celebrate their work as thinkers and doers."
--Ingrid Anderson, EdD, Infant Toddler Mental Faculty and Coordinator, Portland State University (25-years early childhood faculty and researcher)
"An incredibly useful tool, Baby Steps to STEM provides a much-needed framework for early STEM learning and development, and connects the dots between theory and practice with an extensive list of engaging STEM activities and resources. If you are an educator of children or adults you will find this an invaluable guide to bringing out the STEM in your work!"
--Soleil Boyd, PhD, director of coaching and professional development, Childcare Quality and Early Learning Center for Research and Professional Development, University of Washington

About the Author

Jean Barbre, Ed.D., LMFT, brings over three decades of expertise in infant, toddler, and early childhood development and psychology. She has guided professionals in the field as a reflective consultation consultant, preschool program manager, and coach for administrators. Jean has taught early childhood courses at both community colleges and California State University and is currently an adjunct instructor at Portland State University, teaching in their infant toddler early mental health graduate program.

In addition to her teaching, Dr. Barbre provides training and consultation on a wide range of topics and has presented and keynoted nationally at various conferences including The National Association for the Education of Young Children and the California Association for the Education of Young Children, as well as internationally at events including the Asian Pacific Educational Research Association in Singapore and Shanghai Normal University, China. Her expertise has also been highlighted on local television.

A published author with Redleaf Press, Dr. Barbre has written Foundations of Responsive Caregiving: Infants, Toddlers, and Twos; Activities for Responsive Caregiving: Infants, Toddlers, and Twos; Baby Steps to STEM: Infants, Toddlers, and Twos; and Supporting Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Strength-based Approach for Early Childhood Educators.