LA HABRA, Calif. - For little Aiden Torres, opportunities to learn about building and engineering aren’t just fun, but they’re critical because he doesn’t always get them at home. He spends time every week at The Children’s Museum at La Habra, in their Lil’ Innovators program.

It’s a grant-funded program from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences and involves STEM and pre-schoolers – introducing the concept to underserved three- to five-year-olds to give them an advantage they desperately need.

“It helps our family very much. Because we are exploring more things that we as kids didn’t,” Janet Anguiano, Aiden's mom, said. 

Janet plays with him here, learning things as well. 

“It teaches me new things he has learned also, like taxidermy. I was like, 'I didn't know what that meant,'” she said.

More than that, she learns ways she can bring STEM activities back to their home, so the learning doesn’t stop. Something Aiden can for sure do in his own front yard is look for insects.

After learning all about different kinds of bugs, Aiden got a chance to get hands-on in the science world, and go on a bug hunt.  It’s activities like this that Lil’ Innovators uses to increase preschoolers’ essential STEM development…and set them on the right path to success at an early age. 

“We want him to expand his horizons and learn more about job opportunities they have for science,” she said. 

Keeping his mind curious, and his options endless.