Episode 1: Grocery Shopping for Natural Science 

Listen as the STEMIE hotline coaches her through simple techniques that help keep babies engaged. Plus, get research-supported strategies from early childhood development expert and occupational therapist, Dr. Yvette Mere-Cook, on recognizing and nurturing your child’s natural curiosity during everyday errands.

Download the Transcript

About the Guest

Dr. Yvette Mere-Cook has been working with children with disabilities and their families for over 20 years as an early interventionist and preschool-based occupational therapist. Dr. Mere-Cook examines instructional practices, innovative approaches, and sensory-based strategies that support the inclusion of young children with disabilities within learning environments. Her work includes embedding the engineering design process within inclusive preschool classrooms.

Key Takeaways

• Infants and toddlers are already scientists, and the whole world is their lab.
• Families can use the scientific method (observing with their senses, narrating their thinking, predicting, testing, and concluding) while selecting produce.
• Talking about the size and weight of grocery items (like big vs. small) while providing hands-on exploration helps children understand these concepts better.
• Making adaptations based on children’s needs, including sensory needs, can turn grocery shopping into a rich STEM learning experience.