What is engineering? Why are engineering activities for kids important?
Engineering uses science and math to solve real-world problems. Engineering is used for everything from building roads to completing data analysis tools at an insurance company. There is almost no career today that does not use engineering in some capacity.
Although many children are born with natural engineering tendencies and curiosities, we lose a lot of these skills as we age. Providing thoughtful engineering activities for kids as a part of STEM activities will provide a solid knowledge of engineering that any child can take into adulthood.
But engineering projects are not all boring! In fact, engineering activities are some of the most fun and hands-on STEM activities for kids that children can do.
Try these super-fun engineering activities for kids with your classroom or at home!
Fun Engineering Activities
Use these engineering activity ideas to go along with your STEM activities for kids!
What are Engineering Projects for Kids?
Most children start from a place of engineering when they are young. Toddlers and preschoolers continually build, test, experiment, and play with materials to learn more about the world around them.
But for some reason, we often lose that sense of curiosity as we age. Adding more hands on engineering projects for kids and engineering activities for kids in the classroom setting helps foster that sense of wonder longer, while helping children see how all the subjects of school work together. In a simple engineering activity, kids may engage in activities such as:
- Building and design
- Construction
- Selecting the right materials
- Circuits and electrical engineering
- Physics
- Cause and effect
- Living math
- Prototype building and testing
- Creativity
Why Do Kids Engineering Activities?
Engineering activities are a lot of fun to try with kids. Engineering is a fun hands-on way to see some areas of science, like physics, the properties of matter, and structural integrity of materials up close and personal.
Kids who love hands on activities will find engineering lessons so much more engaging than simple worksheets. Engineering activities often incorporate all elements of STEM learning, including science, technology, engineering, and math, making them some of the most comprehensive STEM activities that children can do.
You can try these engineering activities in the classroom or at home with your kids!
WHAT CAN KIDS LEARN BY DOING ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES?
Kids can learn a lot by doing engineering activities! Some of the most important lessons and skills that kids learn by doing engineering activities include:
- Building science and math skills
- Learning to work as a team
- Gathering problem-solving skills
- Learning how to use the right materials to find the right solution for any problem
Supplies for Engineering Challenges for Kids
Use these supplies to make your engineering activities easier! This post contains affiliate links.
SmartLab Toys Smart Circuits Games & Gadgets Electronics LabThames & Kosmos Structural Engineering: Bridges & Skyscrapers
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Mega Construction Engineering Set – Build 35 Unique Motorized Models: Helicopters, Cars, Animals and More – STEM Learning
Uno Starter Kit For Arduino Projects Kits With USB Wires Breadboard Leds Ir Sensors 5V Relay Controller Board Servo Motor 64 Items Electrical Engineering Accessories
Kids First Intro to Engineering Kit
Thames & Kosmos Mechanical Engineering Robotic Arms
Learning Resources Playground Engineering & Design STEM Set, 104 Pieces
AMOSTING Engineering Toys STEM Construction Building Blocks Set Educational Learning Kit for Kids – 148pcs
Squishy Circuits Deluxe Kit
BOOKS ON ENGINEERING FOR KIDS
Basic Machines and How They WorkBasic Electricity (Dover Books on Electrical Engineering)
The Book of Forces
Mistakes That Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came to Be
STEM Starters for Kids Engineering Activity Book: Packed with Activities and Engineering Facts
Getting Started with Engineering: Think Like an Engineer! (Dummies Junior)
The Way Things Work Now
Rosie Revere, Engineer
Engineering: Feats and Failures (TIME FOR KIDS® Nonfiction Readers)
STEAM Kids: 50+ Science / Technology / Engineering / Art / Math Hands-On Projects for Kids
THE ULTIMATE LIST OF ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
Try these fun engineering activities for kids and have an engineering activity for every occasion imaginable!
These engineering activities for kids are perfect for any time of year!
Engineering Activities for Toddlers
Toddlers will have fun completing these toddler engineering activities.
Testing the Strength of Aluminum Foil
Engineering Activities for Preschoolers
Try these simple engineering activities for preschoolers and start to discover engineering in the preschool classroom!
Engineering Activities for Elementary Students
Elementary kids will have a blast trying out these unique and creative engineering activities for elementary!
Will an Egg Crate Airplane Fly?
Airplane Engineering Challenge
Engineering Activities for Middle School
Middle schoolers will love these engineering activities for middle school students.
ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES FOR SPRING
Try these fun engineering activities for kids during the spring!
Make a Soap-Powered Peeps Boat
Egg Drop Engineering Challenge
Exploding Easter Eggs Engineering Experiment
ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES FOR SUMMER
Try these summer engineering activities when it’s hot out!
ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES FOR FALL
Kids will love doing these fun fall engineering activities.
Design a Monster Craft Engineering Activity
Mini Pumpkin Engineering Activities
ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES FOR WINTER
Simple Engineering Projects: Construct a New Hat for Santa
Christmas STEM Challenge: Design a New Sleigh for Santa
STEM Experiments: Build a Christmas Tree from Playdough
Christmas Engineering: Bubbling Snow Globe
Christmas Ideas for Preschoolers: Hide the Deer
Cool STEM Experiments: Design a Snow Globe
Christmas Activities for Children: Design Your Own Wrapping Paper
Engineering Project Ideas: Light Up a Christmas Tree
Design a Love Bug Engineering Activity
