Early experiences in STEM education can contribute to positive cognitive development in young children. When students have the opportunities to play, inquire, follow their interests/curiosities, develop STEM identities, be creative, and operate within concrete/contextualized STEM explorations, they will experience expansive cognitive growth. Cognitive benefits include expanded thought capacity, increased creativity, better problem-solving abilities, a developing capacity for research, better exploration processes, and better observational powers. Implications for practice and recommendations for educators are discussed.