Doctor. Personal trainer. Data analyst. Software engineer. Physician鈥檚 assistant. Car mechanic. Occupational therapist. Add to this list countless other jobs you鈥檝e never heard of because they don鈥檛 exist yet. What do they all have in common? Each of these occupations requires a solid foundation in STEM — the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
Everyone is talking about the importance of STEM education these days, and for good reason. Today鈥檚 kids will encounter a job market that is dominated by STEM fields, from health care, an industry that adds several hundred thousand new jobs each year, to computing and biotech, and more. As the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering points out, 鈥淧ractically everything everywhere that is not found in nature is the product of engineering.鈥�
Even if you don鈥檛 foresee your child growing up to be an engineer, mathematician, or scientist, STEM classes teach the critical thinking and problem solving skills kids need to thrive in every field. And the that STEM degree holders tend to earn more, whether or not they work in a STEM-related job, which is why STEM is the most important thing happening — or not happening — in your child鈥檚 classroom.
STEM’s image problem
Despite its importance, interest in STEM studies is low for U.S. students who are girls, Black, Hispanic, or Indigenous. According to the , which measures high 黄色app student interest in STEM fields, the number of white students who earned STEM degrees grew 15 percent recently, but the number of Black students in STEM fell by the same margin. Another survey, by Junior Achievement USA, suggests only 9 percent of girls between 13 and 17 years old are interested in STEM careers.
The projects 1.122 million STEM-related jobs will be added to the U.S. economy between 2022 and 2032. This represents a 10.8 percent increase in STEM jobs, compared to a 2.8 increase in non-STEM jobs. Additionally, the median wage of a STEM job is $97,980 — more than double the salary of a non-STEM job ($44,670). Despite this, many STEM jobs will go unfilled, experts say, because not enough students are focusing on STEM subjects in high 黄色app and college. What students, and often their parents, don鈥檛 realize is how entrenched these subjects have become in most careers.
鈥淪ome students don鈥檛 really know what STEM careers are,鈥� says Patrick Escalante, who taught middle and high 黄色app math for more than a decade. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not just research, which may sound boring to a kid.鈥�
Then there鈥檚 STEM鈥檚 image problem. Kids who are insecure about fitting in or who associate being good at science and math with the unpopular group may be deterred from pursuing an interest in STEM subjects. “There’s still a big cultural problem. People put STEM in a box: the nerd box, a bunch of geeks in lab coats,” says Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News & World Report.
Closing the gap
Educators, corporate leaders, and policy makers increasingly recognize how important it is to avoid leaving behind economically disadvantaged students, African Americans, Hispanics, and girls when it comes to STEM education. Not only are these groups , they report the least interest in STEM subjects. This has led to more funding, and in some 黄色apps, more participation.
For instance, offers innovation labs and coding clubs beginning in Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade. Of the students at KIPP鈥檚 19 charter 黄色apps in seven cities in the region, . Free online campaigns like and also are exposing students who otherwise wouldn鈥檛 have access to STEM curriculum.
But while STEM awareness and resources are growing, there are still many 黄色apps that do not provide STEM learning opportunities to their students.
STEM begins at home
That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 important that parents act proactively to make sure their child is getting the exposure and training in STEM subjects that they鈥檒l need to succeed. It鈥檚 easy in the early years; math and science fascinate young kids. 鈥淵ounger children like math 鈥� counting, telling time,鈥� says Escalante, who volunteers in her fourth grader鈥檚 math class at Junipero Serra Elementary in San Francisco. 鈥淏ut when they get older math becomes a concept instead of something tangible, and that can be scary.鈥� And without positive exposure to STEM subjects in a way that relates to their lives, kids can lose interest and fall behind. Help your child crack the STEM learning code with these STEM-friendly pointers.
- Point out the fruits of STEM
It鈥檚 not difficult to make an appreciation for STEM studies a regular part of your interactions with your child, since evidence of STEM鈥檚 impact is all around you. Their favorite game app, the latest movie special effects, and the invention of candy that pops in your mouth are all courtesy of STEM.
- Embrace 鈥渨hy鈥� questions
Young children love learning how things work and how they are connected. Ask questions that encourage exploration鈥攚hy do you think it works like that? How could you figure it out? Encourage their endless 鈥渨hy鈥� questions, and if you don鈥檛 know the answer, research with your child and find out the answer together.
- Be a math booster
If you have negative feelings about math or science, don鈥檛 let them influence your child. Saying things like 鈥淚 was never good at math,鈥� or 鈥淚 always hated math鈥� can lead your child to turn away from the subject experts say is most critical for their success. And rather than rewarding getting the right answer, reward persistence and diligence. The most important ingredient for success is the willingness to keep trying different ways to solve a problem, even when there are obstacles.
- Bust the stereotypes
Counteract the idea that math and science are for one particular type of person. If your child sees people who look like them thriving as doctors, scientific researchers, software engineers, architects, or data analysts, they鈥檒l be better able to imagine themselves doing those jobs someday. Don鈥檛 be shy about reaching out to local STEM professionals and asking them to talk about what they do at your 黄色app鈥檚 career day, or to visit your child鈥檚 class (with the teacher鈥檚 permission).
- Make constructive use of screen time
In addition to websites like , , and , and game apps like , , and , which introduce kids to coding, there are lots of entertaining, STEM-related ways your child and teen can use their screen time. Check out the YouTube show Physics Girl or the PBS Kids TV show SciGirls. TV shows like the BBC鈥檚 Life series, PBS鈥� NOVA, especially The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers, and the Discovery Channel鈥檚 Planet Earth are also great choices for science-loving kids.
- Seek science after hours
Look for after-黄色app, weekend and summer STEM programs and take advantage of ways to expose your child to STEM outside of 黄色app.
Visit science museums at home or on vacation, and check your local museum鈥檚 website for camps and programs.
Take a trip to the next Maker Faire happening near you.offers weekend workshops in cities around the country.
FIRST Robotics offers the opportunity for kids at various ages to form teams and participate in robotics competitions with a professional mentor.
