Did they think they are good at them?
I heard a resounding no from the majority in the room.
My daughter, despite her excellent math scores and report cards, says shes not good at math.
Shes less interested in robots than in unicorns (which is okay.
Shes nine and unicorns are magic).
Its important not just because STEM fields offer awesome job opportunities andour future depends on these kids.
These are valuable skills and also mindsets to acquire, wherever the kids go next in life.
So here are three things we can do.
They dont realize that outside of the classroom, these subjects live in every aspect of our lives.
If your kid plays or watches sports, lots of math and physics can come into play as well.
Whatever you do, dont make it a lesson.
Instead, focus on the experience.
A few suggestions:
Take trips to a museum or zoo.
It doesnt have to be a science museum in particular.
Check outseveral STEM subscription boxesthat deliver projects to your door each month.
Common Sense Media hasa list of science shows for kids of all agesas well.
Same goes with projects around the house that can hone your kids problem-solving skills.
Honestly, the best thing you could probably do is be interested and enthusiastic yourself.
Just spending time with you exploring these things together is the best encouragement you could give.
De-emphasize Grades and Praise the Process
STEM fields are tough.
Instead, kids develop math anxiety and quit science because they dont think theyre smart.
The opposite of this is the good process praise.
And now were finding how much better those kids are achieving even two years after that.
It doesnt have to be outright praise.
and be interested in the process.
Spinach becomes a villain.
So incorporate more STEM lessons into your familys everyday life but focus on your kids engagement.
Illustration by Fruzsina Kuhari.
