Creativity and STEM Learning

Pull up a chair with me for a second. I want to talk about two words that don’t always seem to belong in the same sentence: creativity and STEM.

When you hear “creativity,” maybe you picture paints, glitter, or kids scribbling wild stories in their notebooks. And when you hear “STEM” (science, technology, engineering, and math), maybe you think lab coats, calculators, or complicated coding. They sound pretty different, don’t they?

But here’s the exciting thing: when creativity and STEM meet, they don’t cancel each other out. They actually make each other stronger. And when our kids learn to use both together, they grow in ways that prepare them not just for school and life, but for their walk with God, too.

So let’s take a little stroll through this idea together. I think by the end, you’ll be just as pumped as I am about helping kids lean into both creativity and STEM.

Creativity Isn’t Extra – it’s Essential

We tend to tuck creativity into boxes like “art class” or “free time.” But creativity is way bigger than finger paints and coloring books. It’s the spark that helps us ask “What if?” It’s the ability to see beyond what’s in front of us and imagine something more.

And here’s the thing, our God is the original Creator. Genesis 1 is basically an explosion of creativity. He spoke, and the universe appeared. He shaped mountains, designed oceans, filled the world with life, and then, He made us in His image.

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’” Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)

If we’re made in the image of a creative God (and we are), then creativity isn’t optional. It’s built into who we are. We were created to create. You probably know from my Following Your Creative Calling – Even When It Feels Scary article that I am BIG about pursuing our creative side. For our kids, and for us, imagination and invention aren’t fluff; they’re a reflection of His design, and creativity is foundational to who we are. When we encourage our children to Develop a sense of wonder and nurture creativity in kids, they grow into adults who feel confident to pursue their creative passions.

STEM Is Already in Their World

Now let’s flip to STEM. Whether we realize it or not, STEM is part of everyday life. Every time your child stacks blocks, measures flour for cookies, or asks why the sky is blue, they’re bumping into science, technology, engineering, or math.

For years, schools have emphasized STEM to prepare children for a world full of innovation and complex challenges. But here’s the thing: STEM without creativity is like a toolbox without imagination. You might have the tools, but without vision, what will you build?

When Creativity Meets STEM

When creativty meets STEM is where the fun begins. Creativity gives STEM imagination and a heartbeat. STEM gives creativity structure. Together? They nurture and raise up kids who don’t just memorize answers but who think critically, solve problems, and see possibilities and opportunities where others see roadblocks.

Think about a science fair project. Without creativity, a kid might copy an experiment straight from YouTube. But with creativity? They’ll ask new questions, invent fresh methods, and present results in a way that makes people lean in and pay attention.

Or picture a child learning coding. Without creativity, it can feel like memorizing lines of instructions. But with creativity, suddenly coding becomes storytelling, characters moving across a screen, puzzles being solved, or even a new app idea coming to life.

See what I mean? The two together bring ideas to life.

When our kids put creativity and STEM together, they’re reflecting His image as Creator. STEM is the wisdom and knowledge, but creativity is what fills the “rooms” with color and beauty.

Growing Critical Thinkers

At its heart, critical thinking is about more than knowing facts. It’s about analyzing, comparing, deciding, and adapting. When kids combine creativity and STEM, they get practice in all of that.

Picture a child building a bridge out of Legos. Creativity lets them dream up wild designs. STEM helps them test which designs actually hold weight. Trial, error, and improvement sharpen their ability to think through challenges and try again.

Like when my kids were younger, we spent a few days trying to determine which style of paper airplanes flew the best. We had a long hallway in our house. We spent hours learning differnt folding techniques, mastering the art of launching the airplanes down the hallway, measuring how far they flew, and figuring out which ones were the best. Those were some of the funnest memories, crafting the perfect airplanes together.

Or when my daughter recently had to determine whether freeze-dried sour Skittles or regular sour Skittles would be better for a candy-loving astronaut in space. (Yes, this was a very serious experiment in our house.) She started with curiosity. Creativity asked the question of which would be better in space. STEM helped helped her determine the answer. And then STEM helped her design a package for the one’s that she chose so the candy-loving astronaut could open them with her glove clad hand while in flight. Through the process, she learned how to ask questions, follow the rabbit trails (what happens when we freeze dry food? Does it change the flavor? Does it lose nutrients?), and draw conclusions.

And you know what? Isn’t that just like life? We try things, learn from what works (and what doesn’t), adjust, and try again.

James reminds us,

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NKJV)

Just like our kids learn to test and adjust in a project, they can also learn to pause and ask God for wisdom in life’s challenges.

Building Real Problem-Solvers

Problem-solving isn’t just about fixing what’s broken. It’s about recognizing a challenge, brainstorming solutions, and walking them out.

Imagine kids working together to move water from one bucket to another without lifting it. Some might try straws. Others might grab spoons. A few might discover siphons or tubing. With every attempt, they gain resilience and collaboration skills.

And when things don’t work out? They learn perseverance. They adjust. They try again.

Like the kiddos in science lab at our co-op. I assist in a class of 6-8 year olds. They are learning about the scientific method. This week we were making bouncy balls. They learned that sometimes the first recipe doesn’t quite work out. So, we adjust the recipe. And sometimes, we have to start over with a new recipe.

That sounds a lot like Romans 5:

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)

STEM challenges aren’t just teaching skills. They’re shaping character.

Real-Life Applications

Here are just a few everyday ways creativity and STEM overlap:

Cooking
Cooking is both art and science. Measuring ingredients requires math. Adjusting recipes builds problem-solving. Decorating cupcakes? That’s creativity at work.
Building Projects
From Legos to woodworking, building requires engineering know-how and creative vision. Children discover what works structurally and how to make it beautiful.
Gardening
Gardening involves biology, soil science, and weather patterns. But choosing plant layouts, colors, and arrangements taps creativity. And in the process, kids learn patience, stewardship, and the beauty of God’s creation.
Robotics
Robotics combines coding, engineering, and design. Kids aren’t just learning technology; they’re imagining how machines can solve real-world problems.
Storytelling with Technology
Digital storytelling or animation merges creativity with technical skill. It’s not just about writing a story, but about coding, designing, and presenting in innovative ways.

Encourage Creativity + STEM

You might be thinking, “That sounds great, but how do I actually help my kids grow in both?” You don’t need to be a scientist or an artist to support your child. Trust me, I am neither. Here are a few simple ways.

Provide Open-Ended Materials

Keep materials on hand that can be used in multiple ways: building blocks, art supplies, recyclables, and even old gadgets they can take apart safely. These encourage both tinkering and imaginative play. We once gave our son an old vacuum to take apart because he wanted “to see what was inside.”

Ask Open-Ended Questions

Instead of giving quick answers, ask your child questions like:

“What do you think would happen if…?”
“How else could we solve this?”
“Why do you think that worked?”

Celebrate Process Over Product

The point isn’t just to get the right answer. It’s to encourage curiosity and persistence. Celebrate effort, creativity, and resilience—even when things don’t turn out perfectly.

Connect STEM to Faith

Remind your kids that God gave them curious minds and creative spirits. Encourage them to see their projects as worship and stewardship of the gifts He’s given.

The Eternal Perspective

We don’t just want our kids to become great problem-solvers for school or careers. We want them to grow into wise, resilient, and faithful followers of Christ who bring creativity and discernment into every part of life.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Colossians 3:23 (NKJV)

Whether they’re building a robot, baking cookies, or painting a picture, we can remind our children that their creativity and learning can bring glory to God.

Creativity + STEM Activity Ideas for Kids

Here are some fun ideas you can try at home:

Marble Maze Challenge – Build mazes in a box lid with straws and marbles. If you prefer a marble run that won’t lead to tears, you can also buy one that is sure to assemble correctly.
Invent a Tool Game – Use household items to solve silly problems.
STEM Story Cubes – Roll story cubes and prompt your kiddo to create wild challenges or stories based on the cubes they roll.
Kitchen Chemistry – Nothing beats science experiemnts that you can eat! Here are some Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids with 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat!
Candy Experiments – Speaking of kitchen chemistry, we had a lot of fun with Candy Experiments book!
Bridge-Building Contest – Use toothpicks and marshmallows for strength tests. We also have a ton of KEVA planks for building fun.
Design a Creature – Invent a creature for another planet and explain how it survives.
Water Transport Challenge – Move water without pouring or lifting containers. Have straws, spoons, and other little things scattered around to see what they choose.
LEGO Story Builders – Tell stories through structures.
Nature Engineers – Build mini-shelters from sticks and leaves.
Cardboard Arcade – Create arcade-style games with cardboard boxes. You’d be amazed at what can be made from cardboard. For more ideas, check out this Cardboard Box Engineering: Cool, Inventive Projects for Tinkerers, Makers & Future Scientists book.

Bonus: After the fun, connect it back to faith by reading Psalm 19:1 together.

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” Psalm 19:1 (NLT)

Creative STEM Books by Age

Teen (Ages 13-18+)

The Martian by Andy Weir
Math Girls by Hiroshi Yūki
Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney
The New Cool by Neal Bascomb
Painting the Cosmos by Dr. Nia Imara
A Young Inventor’s Guide to STEM by Gitanjali Rao
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Ada Lovelace: Programming the Future by Robert Black
Fairy Tale Physics books by Sarah Allen

Faith-Inspired STEM Reads

Indescribable series by Louie Giglio
STEM Devotions for Kids by Tracy M Sumner
Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop: 52 Fizztastically Fun Experiments and Devotions for Families by Brock Eastman

STEM Resources on That Bald Chick

When our kids put creativity and STEM together, they’re reflecting His image as Creator.
STEM is the wisdom and knowledge, but creativity is what fills the “rooms” with color and beauty. — When our kids put creativity and STEM together, they’re reflecting His image as Creator. STEM is the wisdom and knowledge, but creativity is what fills the “rooms” with color and beauty.

Just Between Us

You might think you’re not doing a great job at all of this. But pause for just a moment. Think of a recent moment when your child used creativity to solve a problem, big or small. How did that reflect God’s image in them? How can you encourage more of those opportunities in your home this week? When we can do that, that’s the good stuff.

The beauty of weaving creativity with STEM, is that it’s not just about raising smart kids. It’s about raising faithful, resilient, joyful kids who know their minds are a gift from the Creator Himself. And that’s something worth celebrating every single day.

I’m going to end this article with a prayer prompt, because I feel like sometimes we get stuck and don’t know how to pray. I’m considering going back and adding them to more recent articles, for the same reason. Feel free to skip it if you’re not the praying kind. I just know I need all the help I can get.

Prayer Prompt

Lord, thank You for making us in Your image, the image of a Creator. Thank You for giving our children curious minds and creative hearts. Help us to encourage them as they explore, imagine, and solve problems. Give them wisdom to seek You in every challenge and joy in the process of learning. May their creativity and knowledge always point back to You, the One who makes all things new. In Jesus name, Amen.