5 ways to Encourage Your Daughter to Learn about STEM

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As an engineer, my mind is hard to shut off sometimes. I tend to overanalyze things all the time. Something I’ve recently noticed about my three-year-old daughter is she does this, too.  It could be with simple tasks with analyzing how her toys are put together, how the zipper works on her jacket, or how to fold her laundry like mommy. She’s starting to do things on her own and in her own special way. She’s learning to be independent and she’s starting to problem solve.  

Since noticing these things, I recently asked her what she thought I did for work. She responded with acting like she was typing on a computer and talking on the phone. Hear me out – I understand she is still little, so she may not understand that her mommy is an engineer, but I’ve now made it a point to expose her to more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) toys and activities. My reasoning? Because I want her to know that she can concentrate on these skills, in terms of problem solving and apply them to a future career one day. 

Men currently outnumber women in STEM occupations. This was true when I was in college less than a decade ago. It was one of my motivations on why I chose to become an engineer. Something to note is that it’s true that you can make a pretty decent salary with STEM jobs, but did you know that they are also predicted to be the most demanded jobs in the future? We do science related activities daily, so why don’t we start engaging our daughters from early childhood. Who knows – it may even change the course of their future!

Here are 5 ways to encourage your daughter to learn about STEM at home. 

1. Try experimental cooking.

Baking is a neat way to conduct a scientific experiment. Try using baking powder and baking soda or simply try following a recipe and deviating from it. Maybe try a sugar alternative? What does it do to what you are baking? Sample it. How does it taste? 

2. Do science experiments.

We all use Pinterest, but do we really use it? Try searching for your daughter’s age group.  Once you start liking or saving a number of posts, Pinterest will automatically advertise related pins and showcase new ideas on your feed. 

3. Tinker with toys.

There are so many great STEM toys out there. Word of advice – look for toys that are interactive, age appropriate and of interest to your daughter.  Check out the Haptime 237-Piece Construction Set, which comes with a power drill! It’s my daughter’s favorite toy right now, since she likes tinkering with things. 

4. Go to camp.

There are some really cool STEM camps out there, such as 2021 Astro Camp where Central Creativity and NASA partner to offer kit-based camps. One is coming to Louisville for the first time July 12-16th, 2021. Your daughter can build robots, make astronaut ice cream and explore the surface of Mars. 

5. Read, ask, answer questions, and discover together!

Choose science-related books or books about scientists. Ask open-ended questions that encourage your daughter to respond with more than a “yes”. Extend the offer to allow them to ask you questions. Most importantly, do it together! You are your daughter’s greatest teacher. 

Our daughters can focus on STEM through exploration, play, and building curiosity about the world we live in. STEM learning is important for everyone and can occur anytime, anywhere. The real-life skills that our daughters develop when learning about STEM help make them better problem-solvers and learners. Who doesn’t want that? These are just ways to encourage your daughter to learn about STEM!

Do you have any favorite STEM activities? Share them with us using #MomsAroundLouisville!

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