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Make Her Holidays Merry & Her Mind Bright: Ten Terrific Gifts for Girls
Did your daughter ask for makeup as a holiday present? Why not teach her about the science of cosmetics? Does she talk on the phone too much? Why not let her build her own?
The same years that girls discover makeup, fashion and boys are the same years they lose interest in subjects like science and math. The holidays are the perfect time to re-energize your daughter's interest in science using a fun format - maybe even something she can do with her family and friends.
According to the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), girls lose confidence in science- and math-based subjects between the 6th and 8th grades. SWE works with companies such as ExxonMobil to encourage girls to continue to pursue their studies of science, math and engineering subjects and consider these careers for their occupation.
To help parents encourage their daughters to continue to cultivate their interest in math and science, SWE has developed its recommendations for the top ten holiday gift ideas for girls ages eight through 14.
Ten Terrific Gifts for Girls
- Game on. There are many great games girls can learn from - and have fun at the same time. For example, "Herd Your Horses" teaches important ecological lessons by showing horses survive in the wild and how to identify them by breed, color and markings ($17.99 at educationallearninggames.com). Or, try the Garden Game: A Celebration of Cultivation for All Seasons. Players feed the soil, plant seeds, nurture the plants, have harvest festivals and help each other through natural disasters. The winner reaps the largest garden while saving the most seeds ($23 at educationallearninggames.com).
- Get busy. Hands-on is the best way to learn. Most girls love to talk to their friends, so why not help them along with the Build Your Own Telephone kit ($29.95). Also try the Talking Clock Building Kit ($24.95) to help girls stay on schedule and make it to class on time.
- Read up. A subscription to a science magazine that appeals to girls, like "New Moons," an empowerment magazine just for girls, "Hopscotch" or "Odyssey," can provide them with an entire year of knowledge. Magazines like these give educational information, thought-provoking topics and a sense of community for young girls interested in science.
- See things differently. A microscope or telescope can open new worlds, and in the process, develop the mind. Girls can use a microscope to tell the difference between things like cat, dog or rabbit fur, or they can analyze the composition of feathers, snowflakes, sunspots or flowers.
- Create crazy concoctions. Science kits work well as an approach that lets your budding scientist try things for herself. These can come in any scientific depth, from Make Your Own Lip Balm ($14.95) and Perfume Science: The Art of Making Scents ($49.95 at discoverthis.com) to the Microscope Slide Making Kit and The Young Scientist Club kit (sensoryedge.com). Pick a kit that works best for her.
- Create a bond. There are chemical and molecular bonds, but nothing is as strong as the family bond. Leverage this bond with several books that give instructions on homemade experiments you and your daughter can do together. Try "The Science Book for Girls and Other Intelligent Beings" ($8.06 off Amazon.com), "High Tech Hot Shots - Careers in Sports Engineering" by Celeste Baine, "Cool Careers for Girls in Engineering" ($11.01) or "47 Easy-to-do Classic Science Experiments" ($4.95).
- Introduce her to the classics. Games like Chess, Backgammon, Pente, Othello or Labyrinth help stretch the mind and promote strategic thought, which comes in handy when applying science concepts in the real world. All are widely available as computer games or board games.
- Make her a supermodel. There are several model kits that show how science works around the house on a daily level. The Thames and Kosmos Power House kit lets you build a model home complete with solar panels, windmill, greenhouse, and desalination system. It has the supplies to build and operate an electric train, windmill, solar cooker, solar hot water tank, hygrometer and electric mower ($159.95).
- Get cooking. The kitchen is an ideal place to learn about measuring, thermal energy and even chemical reactions. For those who love to bake or cook, try Disney's Holiday Cooking Baking Kit ($9.99 at Disneydirect.com) or the Completer Cook Set ($19.95 on mailjust4me.com). Even better, what she bakes can double as gifts for her family and friends.
- Start the holidays on a high note. Studies show a direct correlation between knowing how to read music and understanding math concepts. No age is too young to begin fostering music appreciation, and the holidays are the perfect time for music. An acoustic guitar costs $39.99 from JCPenney, while a harmonica makes another fun gift ($17.95 at zzounds.com). Starter packs include playbooks, instructional DVDs and CDs ($29.95 at sheetmusicplus.com).
Click here to read other articles by the Society of Women Engineers.
Copyright © Society of Women Engineers (SWE). SWE works with companies such as ExxonMobil to encourage girls to continue to pursue their studies of science, math and engineering subjects and consider these careers for their occupation. To help parents encourage their daughters to continue to cultivate their interest in math and science, SWE has developed its recommendations for the top ten holiday gift ideas for girls ages eight through 14. Reprinted with permission.
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