Targeting STEM learning early can support optimal outcomes for children, caregivers, and families. Young learners are born ready to engage in exploration, problem solving, predicting, creating, repetition, and ordering/sequencing, all of which are linked to later high-level STEM competencies and additional academic skills such as reading and writing.

However, there are evident STEM learning opportunity gaps for many children including those with disabilities or from underserved populations. One way to ensure that young children of all abilities are able to engage in and benefit from STEM learning is by supporting their families and everyday caregivers to intentionally target STEM learning as part of their routines and activities.

The proposed project is grounded in a science education partnership between Kidzu Children’s Museum and Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute’s STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education Center (STEMIE). The project will include sharing resources and spaces to develop and implement playgroups for pre-K children with a variety of abilities and their caregivers with specific STEM related goals and activities through the sequence of playgroups. The sessions will be held at the museum’s innovative and inclusive early learning space, entitled The Nest, at times that adhere to caregiver priorities and needs with an overarching goal to ensure equity and inclusion in early childhood STEM learning and education in our local community and beyond. The following specific aims will be addressed:

• Specific Aim 1: To increase caregivers’ concept knowledge and awareness of STEM learning activities
• Specific Aim 2: To increase caregivers’ feelings of self-efficacy related to embedding early STEM learning into daily activities
• Specific Aim 3: To expand preschool children with and without disabilities’ play skills and increase coordinated joint engagement with caregivers
• Specific Aim 4: To assess feasibility and acceptability of a community-based inclusive STEM playgroup for facilitating caregiver-child interaction around early STEM learning opportunities