Science-savvy females have a real advantage in today's world, with typical payoffs of higher salaries and wider opportunities. But particularly in the tween and teen years, many girls get turned off to science. We know we should encourage her science interest, but most of us parents don't feel so science-smart ourselves. In fact, kid questions such as "Why is the sky blue?" or "Why do magnets stick to some metals but not to others?" make some parents panic.
Homegrown science enhancement doesn't have to be stressful at all. Science really is all around if you just look for it. If you're a parent, just point it out.
Take the back yard, for example. That's where our daughters Natalie, 14, and ...