I run an organization that campaigns for more girls to go into careers around science, technology and engineering (STEM). At our conference this year, we heard time and again about the poor careers advice in schools – and how we need to develop a love of science in girls by the age of 10. After that, we are fighting an uphill battle because girls have decided science is not ‘cool.’
And while we are a UK organisation, President Barack Obama has been campaigning on just this issue in the US. He said “I really strongly believe that we need to have more girls interested in math, science, and engineering. We’ve got half the population that is way underrepresented in those fields and that means that we’ve got a whole bunch of talent…not being encouraged the way they need to.” – President Barack Obama, February 2013
So, it is up to all of us to spark their imaginations! Whether we are parents, aunts, godparents, grandparents or just friends of the family.
And to make it easy, we’ve asked around to give you a great list of science gift ideas for girls, below, for holiday presents. Just think, you might spark the next Stephanie Jobs, Billie Gates or Matilda Zuckerberg!
The key is to develop a love of science and tech by making those topics interesting and relevant to everyday life. We can’t rely on teachers to do this, so we are all going to have to become our own mini-careers advisers!
Have fun and please do let us know if you find other toys that we should add to this list – or if you have great success inspiring a young science mind with one of these gifts. Contact us @thewisecampaign or [email protected].
Snap together magnetic blocks to build circuits in seconds (no soldering or wiring needed). Learn core STEM concepts about electricity, circuits, and engineering with the Edison Kit.
Connect wall and floor panels to build your structure. Wire up the motor circuit to make spinning windmills, carousels, and elevators!
Select one of the four activity boards – a robot, rocket, car and boat – and then select bolts to fix to the board using the toy spanner.
Discover how to power a digital clock using only potatoes (then try apples and lemons).
Learn which systems make your body work, and find out how your heart is able to pump blood.
Solar powered six in one gadget – can become a car, boat or fan powered by sunlight alone.
Discover how to make chocolate lollipops and fun chocolate cups with balloons.
Learn how to grow and reproduce your own plants.
Learn the properties of water and how to create fantastic soap bubbles.
Teach children as young as 4 the basics of computer programming.