Technology increasingly touches every aspect of society. Technology also sets the foundation for most modern innovation. In the United States, girls and women are eager users of technology, but they are significantly underrepresented in the creation of technology.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates by 2020, there will be more than 1.4 million computing-related job openings. At current rates, however, only 30% of those jobs will be filled with U.S. computing bachelor’s grads. Girls represent a valuable, mostly untapped talent pool.
As parents, we can raise a generation of tech-savvy girls who will pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers. Here are the main things to consider when raising tech-savvy ladies.
• Education
Encourage your daughters to take STEM courses. In addition to the education they get at school, focus on the education your daughter receives from you their parents. Take your daughter to the library where she can borrow interesting programming and technology-learning books allowing your kid to start her journey into the STEM world.
There are more than enough books that are light and entertaining yet very educative. Try the most popular like “Rosie Revere, Engineer” and “Lauren Ipsum”, books that will inspire your little lady about STEM.
• Programs
Enroll your daughter in one of the various STEM programs offered throughout the country.
The Digital Media Academy (DMA) offers STEM camps for kids ages six through 17 years old. DMA also conducts one week courses and two week academies at university locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Your daughter can join a local Girls Who Code club that offers a computer science education and tech industry exposure to 6th – 12th grade girls nationally throughout the academic year. Girls Who Code also offers a Summer Immersion Program.
The program provides an innovative approach to computer science education – seven weeks of intensive instruction in robotics, web design and mobile development with engaging, career-focused mentorship and exposure led by the industry’s top female entrepreneurs and engineers.
• Example
Even if you hire a dozen professors to coach your daughter, you’ll still need to do something yourself. If you want your daughter to embrace an interest in STEM, you should set a personal example. In simple words, you should be her first and most important role model.
If you are intimidated by STEM how will your daughter feel any differently? And that is why, you will need to read with her, check her homework and be able have or get the answers to those STEM questions your daughter will have.
• Protecting
Although you can trust your kid, you can’t trust everyone who’s contacting your child on the Internet. Possible dangers like online predators, cyber bullying, sexting and many more can be hiding in your daughter’s phone, without you knowing.
iPhone and Android parental monitoring apps can help you control and secure your child from online dangers by giving you a remote access to your child’s phone. You can track social media, Instant Messaging (IM) chats and real-time GPS location.
• Make Technology Fun
Take her out to a place where she can get inspired with science and technology like a planetarium, Sony Wonder Technology Lab, Tech Museum of Innovation, Children’s Discovery Museum etc. Make it a regular date, you’ll spend more time together and learn more about STEM at the same time.
Being tech-savvy is as important nowadays as knowing a second language. Parents investing in their daughters’ technological future will be rewarded with tech-savvy girls who will creators of future technologies.
Do you have other suggestions for raising tech-savvy girls? Please share them in the Comments. Thank you.
