Why Stop at One Day? Make November a Month of STEM/STEAM, and Family Play with GET 9

November has a way of filling the calendar before we can even catch our breath.  Between school, work, family responsibilities, and holiday plans, adding one more “educational activity” could feel like a lot. And here comes November 8^th, national STEM/STEAM day to add more to our plate.  I get it. We all live complex, busy lives, and supporting children’s learning shouldn’t require a perfect schedule or a house full of expensive STEM equipment, or costly tutoring services. Sometimes, a meaningful starting point is much simpler: choose an appropriate game, sit down together, and make room for curiosity.

This November, let’s put STEM and STEAM at the center of that invitation. STEM brings together science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEAM includes the arts, making room for design, expression, and creative exploration alongside analytical thinking. These subjects are not just things children encounter in classrooms or future careers. We can model strong habits by introducing the best practices of inquiry whenever we ask questions, notice patterns, try an idea, and figure out what to do differently next time.

That’s where GET 9 comes to the table, and many of you are already familiar with the

gameplay.  In this card-and-dice game, players use number cards and the operations rolled on the dice to create calculations that get to 9. Cards are face up, giving everyone a chance to see possibilities, follow the thinking, and even have an opportunity to bank card combinations another player missed. Different levels allow players to begin with addition and subtraction and explore more challenging calculations including multiplication, division, cross-sum calculations, as they are ready. The goal gives number practice a purpose: find a combination, explain it, and keep playing.

GET 9's most obvious STEM connection is mathematics. Working out that six plus three makes nine, or six times six make thirty-six which is a cross sum that adds up to nine invites children to connect numbers and operations rather than simply recite answers. Taking the game to the next level by combining cards to create new numbers, adds another piece of difficulty and opportunity. Searching for another combination creates an opening for flexible thinking. Ask, “Could you have used different or more card combinations?”  or “What other options did you have?" For example, combine a six and one to make the new number 61, and subtract 7 which equals 54 (a cross sum that adds up to nine). Things get really fun when you try to chain together all four dice to get to 9. What I love most about it, is actually seeing players think through the options- that lightbulb moment gets me excited.

This play connection extends to habits used throughout STEM: testing an approach, checking a result, and adjusting when the first idea doesn’t work. GET 9 is not a substitute for science experiments, coding, or engineering projects, but it offers a playful place to practice mathematical reasoning that can support those experiences. Let your child hear you think aloud, too: “That combination didn’t work. I’m going to try another.” You don’t need every answer to model persistence.

The best thing about this approach is that there is encouraging research behind choosing number games intentionally. A 2023 review published in Early Years examined 19 studies involving children ages three to nine and found that number-based board games can support skills such as counting, addition, and comparing numbers. That research was not a test of GET 9, so it doesn’t establish results for this particular game. However, it does offer a useful takeaway for families: well-chosen games can make meaningful math practice part of play.

Now, what about the “A” in STEAM? I don’t think we connect the dots often enough. There’s more math hiding in the arts than we might realize! Designers use shapes, symmetry, and proportion to bring visual ideas to life. Musicians and their music rely on counting, patterns, and fractions to organize beats and rhythms. Playing GET 9 gives children practice exploring numbers and how they fit together—a foundation they can draw on as they explore design and music, too. Help them notice those connections: spot a repeating pattern in a design or clap and count a favorite rhythm together. Math and creativity aren’t separate worlds; they can work hand in hand.

Being strategic about supporting STEM/STEAM efforts throughout the month and year, begins with choosing a game that fits your child’s current skills, interests, and attention span. Look for clear rules, manageable challenges, and opportunities to explain choices. With GET 9, start at a comfortable level rather than rushing toward harder operations. If frustration takes over, simplify the challenge or take a break. Celebrate a thoughtful attempt, an explanation, or a new approach—not only a win. The invitation should feel like “Let’s explore,” not “Prove what you know.”

For November, try a small, realistic family plan: set aside ten or fifteen minutes when it works for you, keep the game within reach, and ask one open-ended question during play. Invite a grandparent, sibling, or friend to join when schedules allow. Finish by asking, “What did you discover?” That small reflection keeps the focus on learning together. Miss a day? Start again. A useful routine is one your real family can return to, not another obligation to feel behind on.

Although I believe that all games include a learning or educational aspect, we cannot make life less complex simply by opening a game, and no game can promise academic success. But we can be intentional about creating opportunities to think, create, and connect. This November, let GET 9—or another well-matched game—be a starting point for supporting your children’s success in STEM and STEAM. Pull up a chair, welcome their questions, and remember-- you don’t have to do everything. Begin with one game and one shared moment. Let’s Play!