Count Girls In

August 1, 2018
By now, parents are aware that careers in STEM fields are growing more rapidly and tend to be paid better than those in many other fields. While boys are often encouraged to follow their science dreams, girls are usually redirected toward more traditionally feminine pursuits. Here, Panetta and Williams take a nonjudgmental approach, examining where and why we lose girls when it comes to STEM. It's important not to steer girls away from STEM, they say, but equally important not to force it upon them; the coauthors stress the necessity of meeting girls where they are and offer suggestions for naturally incorporating STEM into daily activities. They draw connections between STEM and the arts, address ways to encourage interest in STEM subjects at different grade levels, and remind parents to check their own biases. In-depth notes on STEM career paths will help facilitate discussion, and recurring "Putting It into Practice" sections add a practical element for parents unsure of where to start when modeling behavior. A readable, highly useful resource for parents of daughters of all ages.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)