Engineer It Together: How Family STEM Projects Build More Than Just Skills

For Aussie families who value quality time and purposeful play, there's a special kind of magic that happens when everyone puts on their 'tinkering hats' and builds something — together. Whether it's a solar-powered contraption, a DIY weather station, or a working pulley system, collaborative STEM projects bring more to the table than just educational outcomes. They build bonds, boost communication and foster a growth mindset — for parents as well as kids.

Why Try Family-Style STEM Projects?

Over the past few years, STEM-at-home has evolved. It's no longer just an activity to keep kids occupied — it’s become a shared experience. Here’s what hands-on group projects can offer:

Shared decision-making: Encourages responsibility and respect for each other’s ideas
Communication boosts: Kids articulate their thoughts; adults model troubleshooting out loud
Equal ownership: Success isn’t just about finishing — it’s about navigating challenges as a team

Mini Engineering Labs: Project Ideas for Every Household Type

Backyard Bonus: The Recycled Waterwheel Build

Perfect for homes with garden access, build a working waterwheel using recycled bottles, sticks, and buckets. Use it to redirect rainwater or just generate movement.

Core concepts: Motion, energy transfer, sustainability
Team tasks: Adults help cut and secure structure; kids test load balance and modify angle

Flat-Friendly: Lego Marble Timer Challenge

No yard? No problem. Create a contraption using building blocks where a marble takes exactly 10 seconds to travel from top to bottom. Use obstacles like paper flaps or string gates for resistance.

Core concepts: Gravity, timing, friction, design testing
Family twist: Compete by teams or rotate roles: Designer, Tester, Recorder

Rainy Days: Kitchen Science Relay

Turn your kitchen bench into a STEM relay course: one section for static electricity, another for simple chemical reactions (hello, vinegar and bicarb), and a final station for magnet tests. Even better with cousins or neighbours over!

Core concepts: Chemistry, properties of matter, observation
Hosts’ benefit: Turn holidays into memory-making mini science fairs

Real-Life STEM Families: Local Aussie Examples

🌿 Biloela, QLD — The Conway Crew’s Outdoor Fridge Fan

Using a motor from an old toy, cardboard, a 9V battery and a repurposed gift box, the Conways made a fan system to cool their esky during picnics. Eleven-year-old Jude did the wiring, while mum Simone handled the measurements. “We called it ‘ChillBot’. We might patent it!”

🏙️ Carlton, VIC — Urban STEM with the Nguyens

Living in a second-floor unit didn’t stop the Nguyens. “We built a pulley system from our stairs using buckets and toy cranes,” says dad Minh. “Our 7-year-old used it to deliver cookies to his mates on the ground level… complete with a mini-notebook for feedback.”

🥶 Hobart, TAS — Cold-Climate Experimenters

“Our kids always asked why puddles freeze at different times,” says Laura Saunders. “So we mapped out shadow zones and ran a 7am-11am ice timer using cups on cardboard panels. It became a charting and temperature challenge… all while wearing rocket shirts and sipping from chemistry mugs.”

Tools That Encourage Whole-Family STEM Fun

To make parenting (and participating) easier, use family-friendly kits designed to spark discussion and invite co-creation:

STEMology Robot Kits: Split up the build sequence — motors for adults, casing for kids
DIY STEM kits with journals: Great for rotating tasks like ticking checklists or drawing results
STEM apparel accessories: Match up drinkware and hoodies to set the vibe (and maybe earn team names!)

Quick Tips for Making STEM Time Work for Busy Families

Pick early-late split sessions: Start before dinner, wrap up next morning — letting ideas settle overnight
Assign lead roles: Let kids “manage” the project occasionally — script the agenda or give status updates
Don’t over-structure: Let rabbit-hole questions lead to deeper inquiry (even if the kit’s steps pause)
Capture outcomes: Print photos or log discoveries in a family “tinker book” for rainy-day lookbacks

More Than a Project — It’s a Ritual

When siblings troubleshoot wiring, parents tape gliders, and everyone celebrates a balloon-blimp launch… memories happen. STEM becomes not only a doorway to discovery, but a family rhythm that balances screen-free time, shared wins, and joyful problem-solving.

Learn More about kits and accessories that make hands-on STEM a family adventure — shipped with love across Australia.