The effects of STEM activities on creative thinking and problem solving skills of 60-72 month-children's in early childhood

This study aims to find out whether STEM activities carried out during early childhood have an effect on creative thinking and problem solving skills of children. The participants of the study are 38 children who go to the 5 age group of a private kindergarten, located in the Etimesgut district of Ankara, the teachers of these children and the parents of the 24 kids in the experimental group. There are two data sets in the study: 1) Quantitative data obtained by using pretest-posttest control group experimental design in order to find out whether STEM activities have an effect on creative thinking and problem solving skills of children. 2) Qualitative data collected in the wake of the study in order to find out the opinions of teachers and parents as to whether STEM activities have an effect on creativity and problem solving skills of children. In order to find out whether STEM activities have an effect on creative thinking skills of children, the Creative Behavior Observation Form has been used. In order to find out whether STEM activities have an effect on problem solving skills of children, the Problem-Solving Skills Scale for Children has been used. The opinions of teachers and parents have been gathered by asking open-ended questions. It has been found out in the wake of the study that STEM activities have a positive effect on the development of creative thinking and problem solving skills of children, and that this effect is lasting.