2 Ways For Parents To Support Their Child's Interest In 'STEM'

The saying 'too cool for school' no longer holds true. Here's why, and how you can help your child capitalize on this.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | August 08, 2024

Walk into any PK-12 school, and it's obvious there is so much talent hiding in plain sight. You'll find artists who bring vibrant scenes to life through colors, athletic prodigies, musicians who echo the latest Billboard hits and eloquent speakers who could rival seasoned orators. And then there are those who have traditionally been labeled as "nerdy" or "geeky"—the high-achieving students passionate about science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM for short.

This perception of STEM subjects being "uncool" can have a dramatically disastrous effect on a child's well-being. In fact, a decade ago, there seemed to have been a pervasive idea that if a child—as a high-achieving STEM enthusiast—wants to be viewed positively among their peers, they'd need to have other talents (sports, for instance) to negate their "nerdiness."

Despite a historical ambivalence in American pop culture toward children who nerd out on STEM, there has never been a better time to embrace these fields thanks to initiatives like Sphero, an EdTech company focused on enhancing PK–12 education through engaging robotic tools and standards-aligned curriculum.

Here is an effective two-step method to redefine cool by exploring STEM subjects alongside your child—if they have a passion for it—and ensure they develop a positive view of themselves and their own capabilities.

1. Go With The Flow—STEM Is Already A Hot Topic Among Gen Alpha

Remember the scene in 21 Jump Street where the undercover cop duo played by Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum enter a high-school parking lot with preconceived notions of what it meant to be cool from when they were in school?

As one of the students attempts to brush up on some notes from class, Tatum's character goes, "Look at him, he's 'trying,' he's actually trying. What a nerd, look at the nerd," only to be met with looks of disapproval from the "cool" kids.

Although this exchange might have been an exaggeration when the movie came out back in 2012, it reflects how perceptions of what is "cool" have evolved. Today, being passionate about learning and STEM is more accepted and even admired.

Adrienne Emerson, Sphero's Education Content Manager, explains, "When students think about careers, many will say doctor, lawyer, veterinarian, astronaut, etc., but now 'engineer' is in that conversation."

She goes on to say, "Incredible engineering examples are so prevalent in our daily lives—smartphones, electric cars, navigation systems and even interactive appliance screens. Exposure puts ideas in our minds, so the more young students are exposed to technology, the more they want to create more technology."

One of the best ways parents can enable a child to develop confidence in themselves is to keep an eye out for what they are good at and gently nudge them toward ways to hone those skills without being too overbearing about it. Be there for when your child needs help, support or guidance, but this shouldn't be about you or what you want for them—because, frankly, we might be a tad bit out of touch, just as Tatum's character was.

This is to say, let your child explore, experiment and show you what interests them. If STEM interests them more than traditionally cool disciplines, encourage them. Are they keeping a close eye on what companies like Blue Origin or SpaceX are doing? Are they keen to find ways to solve the renewable-energy puzzle? Do they binge-watch MKBHD videos on YouTube?

Many children who grow up today have an innate appreciation for STEM. Should your child pick a lane or two, learn as much as you can about their interests and move to the next step, which is:

2. Be A Guide, And Show Them They Are In Good Company With Their Love For STEM

Being passionate about something and finding a clan of like-minded others who challenge one another is part of the reason why traditionally glamorous disciplines like sports are so "cool." It's down to being a socially sanctioned skill that a sizable part of the population holds in high regard.

Participation in STEM-related groups, activities, or competitions, like the Sphero Global Challenge, can significantly boost your child's social standing and self-esteem while enhancing their problem-solving skills.

Nate Ubowski, who manages the Sphero Global Challenge, captures the essence of this perfectly: "Your child wants to hang out with their friends, so give them some challenges they can work through together. I promise that they will have fun doing the mission objectives and learn a lot about how friendship and teamwork go hand in hand. Doing this competition with a group of friends also lowers the pressure as it gives peers an opportunity to build each other up and problem solve together."

This understanding of the social dynamics in STEM learning is further reinforced by findings from an October 2017 study conducted by surveying children who were a part of the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Programs (ASSIP) at George Mason University.

By surveying 149 high school and undergraduate students who participated between 2007 and 2013, researchers discovered significant factors that contribute to sustaining students' interest in STEM. In fact, 65.5% of the students attributed their initial attraction to STEM to extracurricular activities and influences from family members and childhood experiences.

Dr. Tonjia Grimble, CEO of STEM It Up Sports, which presents the Sphero Global Challenge, adds further depth by explaining, "One notable outcome of our technology-based learning environments is the encouragement of experimentation and resilience-building through learning from failure. Participants develop a mindset that perceives challenges as opportunities for growth, thereby reducing the fear of failure and promoting resilience. By fostering team collaborations, we create supportive environments where participants can learn and apply coping skills in a safe and encouraging atmosphere."

As we shift our focus from merely recognizing the talents in STEM to actively nurturing them, it's essential to understand how these efforts fit into a broader societal context.

While we live in a STEM-driven world, a wide variety of skills are necessary and can complement your child's well-being, so they don't turn into one-trick ponies. The emphasis need not be to "negate the nerdiness," as popular perception used to suggest, but to see your child develop holistically. Social skills and hobbies that have to do with arts and crafts can turn them into happy, confident and well-rounded individuals.

The goal isn't simply enhancing their individual skills and self-esteem. We're contributing to an ongoing cultural shift in the perception of how "cliques" in society need to work together by starting them off early.

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.