How Parents Can Encourage Children’s Interest in STEM

While parents and educators alike understand the importance of attracting children to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields at an early age, sometimes children do not share this same urgency. One of the main reasons for this has to do with not understanding how these subjects relate to their everyday lives. To help reverse this mindset, read below for three ways you can motivate your child to develop a passion for innovation.  
 

1. Make STEM subjects relatable

One of the most effective ways to interest a child in STEM is to show them how they interact with these subjects in their everyday lives. For example, while cooking dinner, explain that chemical reactions occur when food is cooked and exposed to high temperatures. If at a store, have your child pay for the purchased items using cash to demonstrate the practical application of mathematics. The world is filled with opportunities to show children that STEM is all around us!
 

2. Conduct hands-on STEM activities

 Research from the U.S. Department of Education has found that hands-on STEM activities play a crucial role in developing students’ interest in these subjects. This active learning approach is more effective than passive techniques (such as listening to a lecture or watching a video) because it allows children to explore on their own terms. The National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) offers many interactive STEM activities for parents and educators alike on our blog. Each activity is crafted by our team of education experts and encourages creativity and play. 
 

3. Promote STEM role models 

The power and influence of positive role models have long been shown to improve children’s learning outcomes. Research from Opportunity Insights supports this and has found that children who are exposed to innovation at a young age are more likely to innovate in the future. 

By introducing your child to STEM role models, you can help them to see the outcome of pursuing a STEM career. NIHF embraces this idea by featuring activities and stories inspired by our world-changing Inductees in our education programs including Camp Invention®. 
 

Learn more about NIHF today

At NIHF, we believe in the importance of inspiring the next generation of innovators. To learn more about how we champion the power of invention and advance the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country, we invite you to visit our website.