Families with young children are invited to Full STEAM Ahead from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 29 in the East Union’s Arbor Suite.

The free event, sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, features interactive activities in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics using nature and the outdoors. Education abroad students from East China Normal University will also share their culture while facilitating STEAM activities. Registration is not required.

Full STEAM Ahead is designed for children 3-8, but promises to be fun for all ages. Ten exhibits will allow children to interact with STEAM learning activities. Exhibits include reconstructing skeletons, child-friendly coding technology using Cubetto, bridge-building challenges and calligraphy.

“The interactive exhibits provide children with a means to explore and represent key concepts in the sciences while also providing family members ideas for investigating this type of thinking at home and in the community,” said Kelley Buchheister, assistant professor of child, youth and family studies. “In addition, our East China Normal University study-abroad group will have an opportunity to share their culture through STEAM active learning experiences geared toward young children.”

Buchheister said the activities encourage curiosity, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking and help provide children with a strong foundation to succeed. Exposure to STEAM activities prompts innovative thinking and problem solving, Buchheister said, and helps develop skills and strategies that support future learning.

For more information, contact Buchheister at kbuchheister2@unl.edu or 402-472-7386.