Engaging your child in core academic subjects at home can create long-term success. Kirsten Ellenbogen, president and CEO of Great Lakes Science Center, offers ways to spark your child’s interest in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
Own your bias: “You have to be self-aware about what you do and don’t like because you’ll convey that whether or not you mean to,” says Ellenbogen. “If you’re someone who, say, doesn’t like math, really working hard to project a positive attitude toward it goes a long way.”
Think broadly: Connections to STEM are everywhere, and when you notice them, bring it to your kid's attention. “You can do it in movies,” Ellenbogen says. “Like, ‘There is someone who invented that gizmo that allows them to stick to that building, How do you think they did that?’ ”
Stay inquisitive: Help your child have a thirst for knowledge by staying curious yourself. “Pausing and asking a question, or saying, ‘I don’t know, let’s find out together’… really gives a terrific, positive infusion of science in your life,” Ellenbogen says.
