To succeed in “STEM” – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – a child needs to become an intellectual risk taker with the tenacity to tackle tough problems and the critical thinking skills to separate scientific information from opinions. This book unpacks the research on STEM learning into reader-friendly, real-life guidance relevant for today’s busy parents.

This book uses the acronym “SMART” to explain five essential life skills crucial for success in STEM. It breaks down the research on how to support kids’ STEM development through concise, readable, real-life examples spanning toddlers to teenagers. It introduces practical activities and resources that help kids build the necessary mindset for a promising future in STEM, and it includes no-cost ideas that parents and caregivers can use with children to promote STEM SMART thinking.

About the Book

An invaluable resource for parents wishing to arm their children with the life skills necessary to succeed in a STEM-driven culture.

In today’s world of STEM, all children—even those with interests outside of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—need to develop specific skills in order to flourish in a complex landscape. Parents want to help their kids but are often overwhelmed by all the STEM products that aren’t necessarily as valuable as they claim.

In STEM SMART Parenting, educators Alan Zollman, Lisa Hoffman, and Emily K. Suh unpack the research on STEM learning into a reader-friendly, practical guide for parents and caregivers. It introduces activities and resources that help kids of all ages build the necessary STEM mindset, includes no-cost ideas that parents can use with their children to promote STEM thinking, and shows readers how to evaluate which STEM games, toys, and activities actually deliver what they promise.

With real-life examples, daily activities, and key takeaways, this book shows parents how to help their children, from toddlers to teenagers, cultivate critical thinking skills and become intellectual risk takers, prepared for a world where STEM proficiency is essential.