How Dads Can Empower Their Daughters in Math

Hello, Ready To Dad Crew!

Welcome to the first edition of The Ready to Dad newsletter. It's great to see you, and I’m happy you’re here. If you love what you read today in this newsletter and aren’t already subscribed, you can sign up below. If you’re already subscribed, enjoy, and until next time, have a great time with your family!
In This Week’s Newsletter:

In This Week’s Newsletter:

• Quote of The Week - "Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them."

• In The News - Research Finds Parents Overestimate Sons' Math Skills and Parents Think Kids Need Their Own Bedroom

• Javaree Talks - stereotypes in parenting

IN THE NEWS 

JAVAREE THOUGHTS

This year, I became a father to a baby girl. I already see how society has norms and expectations regarding my children’s interests and abilities, so I had many feelings and thoughts when I saw that research presented at University College London indicates that parents are likelier to overestimate their sons' math abilities than their daughters. It’s important to recognize the deep impact of unconscious gender biases on children's development and academic trajectories. This research highlights a pervasive issue that requires a conscious effort to address. Here’s what we can do:

1. Beware of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies: The labels and expectations we place on our children can become their reality. If we overestimate our sons' math abilities and underestimate our daughters', we unconsciously shape our children's self-perception and confidence in these skills. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy where boys feel and think they are more capable, and girls doubt their abilities, regardless of their skills.

2. Break the Cycle of Stereotypes: To counteract these biases, we as parents need to be aware of our stereotypes and actively work to challenge them. We can focus on our children's strengths and interests rather than conforming to societal expectations. Encouraging girls to explore and enjoy math from an early age can help dismantle the stereotype that math is inherently for boys.

3. Provide Objective Feedback: The research points to the effectiveness of our objective performance data. This aligns with my approach of using mindfulness and awareness to guide parenting decisions. By offering clear, unbiased information about a child's abilities, we can make more informed decisions and support our children's learning without distorted stereotypes.

4. Create an Empowering Environment: We must create a nurturing and empowering environment where children feel valued for who they are. This includes encouraging a growth mindset where children understand their abilities can be developed through effort and perseverance. By fostering a love for learning and resilience, we, as parents, can help our daughters build confidence in subjects like math.

5. Enhance our parental Education and Awareness: We need to educate ourselves about the impact of our biases, and it is essential to use tools to support our children's learning effectively. Workshops, resources, and coaching can help parents become more conscious of their attitudes and equip them with strategies to promote gender equality in education.

In summary, addressing the gender bias in parental perceptions of math abilities requires a holistic approach that involves self-awareness, challenging stereotypes, providing objective feedback, and fostering a supportive environment. By doing so, we can help our children, regardless of gender, reach their full potential in all academic areas.

DAD JOKE OF THE WEEK

Why don't oysters share their pearls?
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Because they're a little shellfish!