S3E12: Digging Into STEAM: Playful Learning for Young Children

What if science, math, and creativity didn’t feel intimidating—but instead looked like play, storytelling, and everyday moments? In this episode, host Emily Manning is joined by other members of the Nebraska Extension Early Childhood team to explore the 2026 STEAM Imagination Guides—free resources designed to make STEAM learning fun, accessible, and meaningful for young children. Together, they share how these guides turn simple children’s books into hands-on learning experiences—from digging into dinosaur discoveries to experimenting with melting ice cream and building with everyday materials. Along the way, they break down common misconceptions about STEAM and show how even the youngest learners are capable of big thinking. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator, you’ll walk away with practical ideas and fresh inspiration to spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence in the children in your life. STEAM Guides: https://child.unl.edu/Nebraska-STEAM/ The following music was used for this media project:     Music: Afterparty Review by Sascha Ende     Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/2962-afterparty-review     License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license     "Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/