STEM vs. STEAM: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters for Your Child’s Learning

You’ve probably heard the term STEM tossed around a lot—especially when it comes to education. But lately, another acronym is making waves: STEAM. What’s the difference between the two, and which is better for your child?

What Is STEM?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These four disciplines are foundational to many of the world’s fastest-growing careers and play a key role in innovation and problem-solving. STEM learning helps children:

• Think critically
• Build real-world problem-solving skills
• Understand how the world works through hands-on exploration

STEM has been a major focus in schools to help prepare students for careers in science, coding, robotics, and engineering. But there’s something missing.

Enter the “A”: Why the Arts Matter

STEAM adds Art to the STEM equation: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

Why include the arts? Because innovation requires creativity and is fueled by imagination.

Adding Art to STEM encourages kids to:

• Think outside the box
• Use storytelling and design to communicate ideas
• Bring personal expression to science and math
• Connect learning to the world around them in more meaningful ways

Incorporating art into traditional STEM subjects helps children connect the why behind what they’re learning. It transforms facts into fascination. When kids explore the planets, they don’t just memorize names—they color Saturn’s rings bursting with color and imagination. When they learn about rocks and minerals, they might hunt for shimmering crystals inside geodes or design jewelry inspired by types of stones they have learned about.

Here is an activity book example from our Discover set of books.

This kind of hands-on creativity deepens understanding, makes abstract ideas tangible, and encourages kids to explore from multiple angles. That’s the power of STEAM—it blends science and creativity to build not just knowledge, but deeper and more concrete understanding.

A well-designed STEAM activity might teach kids how the Mars helicopter worked then invite them to create their own helicopter design using paper and binder clips (see our ingenuity blog !). It’s not just about following instructions; it’s about sparking curiosity and empowering kids to dream, invent, and create.

Discover the Magical World of STEAM with Our Newest Activity Book!

Our brand-new Dragonwing Valley STEAM Activity Book is designed especially for ages 7–10+ and packed with over 140 pages of learning adventures that blend imagination with education and STEM topics. This is not your typical workbook—it’s an immersive, interdisciplinary experience that brings science, technology, art, and nature to life.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Space science, nature facts, and crystal exploration
• Challenging puzzles, brain games, and logic activities
• Claude Monet-inspired art projects and paper crafts
• A bonus printable PDF filled with extra games and creative challenges
• All set in the magical world of Dragonwing Valley, where lovable dragon characters guide the fun!

Perfect for homeschool, airplane and car travel, screen-free weekends, and gifts.

Grab your copy today and let the adventure begin!

[Shop Now – Explore Dragonwing Valley STEAM]