One of the newer educational terms that we see frequently in the news is STEAM (or STEM) education. But what exactly is STEAM education and is it appropriate for preschoolers? STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art and math.  Here at the Pearson Early Learning Center, our STEAM lab encourages open-ended exploration and invites children to express their ideas openly. STEAM play-based learning allows children to grow their critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills, and often assists them in furthering their skills in the STEAM learning areas. Each month the lab is set up with a new curriculum and each classroom has an opportunity to attend the lab weekly.