I'm excited to share a fantastic guest post from the online learning platform Brighterly today.
Brighterly has hundreds of expert tutors and is great for helping kids aged 6 to 15 improve their maths and reading skills in a fun, hands-on way.
For many kids, math can feel complicated and overwhelming, all numbers and zero fun. The funny thing is, parents often feel the same way when trying to teach it to their children. Luckily, as parents, we can reshape the experience with a bit of help from STEM challenges. Suddenly, equations turn into experiments, numbers come alive through building and problem-solving, and learning stops feeling like a chore.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) challenges are a fantastic way for busy parents to make math fun and engaging at home. They help kids connect abstract math to real-life scenarios, such as figuring out how to measure ingredients for building a bridge with limited materials. They also boost skills like creativity, logical thinking, and teamwork.
If you're a parent wondering how to make it all work, digital math lessons are an easy way to implement STEM education into your children's day-to-day life in the right way. With online platforms like Brighterly, playful problem-solving is just a few clicks away. But more on that later.
Why do STEM challenges work so well as math learning for kids?
STEM challenges blend math with science, engineering, and creativity, transforming math from something kids have to do into something they want to do, helping kids realize that math isn't just about numbers and homework, it's an essential tool for solving real world problems.
Research from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) shows that hands-on STEM projects that apply math concepts to real-life scenarios help children retain math concepts more easily. Imagine a child who measures angles to design a paper bridge. They will be more likely to see math as useful and exciting, rather than a less interesting paper-based question.
STEM challenges also promote active learning. Children aren't just memorising formulas, they are testing ideas, making mistakes and learning to try again. Real scientists and engineers use the same approach, but in kids, it builds confidence, a deeper understanding of mathematical thinking, and perseverance. And ultimately, it does make math fun.
Done at home as part of homeschool math, STEM activities also stimulate family connection and strengthen family bonds. For example, you can gather together to build a tower from spaghetti and marshmallows. Parents can ask kids questions like, "What shape do you think will make this tower stronger?" to stimulate curiosity and learning while having fun.
Simple STEM challenges for the whole family
Believe it or not, you don't have to have a fancy lab or special equipment in your house to spark your kid's curiosity. There are plenty of home-friendly, engaging math activities you can do together — a few household items and a dash of creativity are more than enough for classic chemistry experiments and fun STEM challenges!
The Marshmallow Tower Challenge
Give your kid spaghetti sticks and marshmallows and challenge them to build the tallest tower possible. Together, you'll have the time of your lives as well as learning geometry, measurements, and stability!
Build A Bridge Experiment
Do you have popsicle sticks, cardboard, or straws? You can build a bridge! One challenge is to make a bridge so strong it can hold toys or coins. This activity helps your child apply math skills such as calculating weight distribution, estimating length, and experimenting with symmetry.
Kitchen Chemistry and Measurements
Cooking is one of the easiest ways to sneak in some math practice. When preparing a meal, invite your kid to double or halve a recipe, measure ingredients, or set timers. You can also time how long it takes for a chemical reaction to occur (like yeast and water or baking soda and vinegar). These activities reinforce fractions, time, and volume, while keeping little ones busy and active.
Pattern Coding With Lego
For older kids, you can introduce basic coding principles by creating color patterns with Lego bricks or paper bricks. Challenging your child to follow, repeat, and predict sequences is an excellent way to boost logic and reasoning, which are core skills in math and computer science.
Brighterly's approach to fun and effective math practice
Brighterly is one of the online maths programs that aims to make math fun and approachable for all students. The Brighterly platform connects US 1st–9th graders to professional math and reading tutors for one-on-one personalized learning. 200K+ parents joined Brighterly last year, giving an average Trustpilot rating of 4.4 stars! Want to explore how Brightelry approaches teaching math and how it leverages STEM challenges? Keep on reading.
Professional tutors for online learning
The Brighterly tutors know how to make interactive math lessons fun, understandable, and cohesive. The platform only collaborates with experienced tutors who are experts in 1:1 online learning. They create a safe space for kids to learn and explore, without the overwhelm of boring drills and formulas memorisation.
Adapted math lessons for every child
The Brighterly platform emphasises building an adapted curriculum for each student, while staying on track with their strengths, weaknesses, and learning gaps. Additionally, the platform's learning plan is fully aligned with school requirements, so you don't have to worry that your child will fall behind the rest of the class.
Charge-free learning resources
It can be hard to find learning resources expertly crafted by professional tutors. Luckily, Brighterly is just the place to find them! The platform's resources are designed by top tutors to provide children with cohesive exercises that help close learning gaps and improve math skills while learning independently.
Additional Brighterly perks to look into:
- Free 1st lesson, allowing you to see if your child loves the platform.
- Flexible lesson schedule, adapted to your family's needs
- Affordable pricing starting from $17.3/lesson (applies to the longest plan with 3 lessons/week).
Conclusion: Boosting math skills through STEM challenges
All in all, STEM challenges are an excellent way for the whole family to bond, help children develop the skills needed for math, and have some serious fun! However, if you're looking for a platform that can take your child's learning further, Brighterly offers fun, hands-on, and engaging lessons at an affordable price!
Last Updated on October 30, 2025 by Emma Vanstone
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