On Florida International University Week: Is play critical for STEM education too?
Karinna Rodriguez, doctoral student in the department of psychology and developmental science program, discusses.
Karinna Rodríguez is a doctoral student in the Developmental Science program in the Department of Psychology at Florida International University. Her research explores how young children perceive and understand the spatial world around them, with the goal of fostering academic achievement and long-term success in STEM fields.
She works with Dr. Shannon Pruden, professor of psychology and director of the Project on Language and Spatial Development at FIU’s Center for Children and Families. Dr. Pruden’s research focuses on the cognitive, cultural, and biological factors that shape individual and sex differences in spatial language and cognition.
Together, they are committed to translating their findings into practical tools that help children build strong spatial foundations for STEM learning.
Building STEM Skills Through Play
When we think about preparing young children for school, we often focus on letters and numbers. But new research shows that another skill – spatial reasoning – may be just as important for building a strong foundation in STEM learning.
Spatial reasoning is the ability to visualize how shapes and objects move or fit together. It’s what we use when solving puzzles, building with blocks, or even packing a suitcase. Decades of research show it is one of the strongest predictors of later success in math, science, and engineering.
Our study, which I conducted with psychology professor Dr. Shannon Pruden, looked at preschoolers as young as three years old and how they solved spatial puzzles. What we found was striking: these young children weren’t just guessing or copying. They used the same mental strategy as adults – mentally rotating whole objects in their minds to find the correct solution. And they did so with surprising speed and accuracy.
This discovery matters because it means that children can begin developing advanced problem-solving skills far earlier than we once thought. Even before entering a classroom, they are capable of practicing the very skills that support future learning in math and science.
The good news is that parents and caregivers can nurture spatial reasoning at home with simple, everyday activities. Playing with blocks, fitting shapes into puzzles, and using spatial words like “under,” “next to,” and “around” during play all strengthen these skills.
By making space for play that builds spatial reasoning, we can give children a head start on the thinking skills they’ll need – not only in school, but in the STEM-driven world ahead.
Read More:
[Wiley Online Library] – Leveraging Eye-Tracking Technology to Understand How Young Children Solve a Mental Rotation Task
FIU Center for Children and Families
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