Building STEM That Stays
Follow the behind the behind-the-scenes journey of creating hands-on STEM kits for girls ages 8-14. From early ideas and sketches to prototypes and launch.
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New here? This page explains what we’re building and why.
STEM That Stays is a hands-on STEM kit brand for moms and daughters ages 8–14.
We’re building creative projects that girls don’t just complete and move on from — they build, display, and live with them. Each kit introduces a real STEM career through the creation of something beautiful, functional, or interactive, creating space for learning, confidence, and meaningful conversations.
This site documents the thinking, testing, and decisions behind building those kits — from first idea to finished product.
I started STEM That Stays because I refused to let social media be louder than my voice in my daughter’s life. I want her, and girls like her, to see real possibilities for their future — not just the ones social media chooses for them.
Even as AI changes the world, there are countless careers where humans will still play a key role. I want girls to explore, create, and imagine those futures for themselves — not just hear that they can.
Latest updates
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Update #5: Designing for Moms + Daughters (and Future Paths)
What we’re working on Designing the shared experience that connects building together with exploring future career paths. Why it matters This isn’t just about spending time together —…
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Update #4: What We’re Building First
What we’re working on Deciding which career paths and skills to introduce first through our earliest kits. Why it matters The first kits don’t just teach how to…
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Update #3 — The Big Idea: STEM That Stays
What we’re working on Clarifying what makes STEM That Stays fundamentally different from other STEM kits. Why it matters Most STEM kits focus on doing an activity. STEM…
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Update #2: The Problem With Most STEM Kits
What we’re working on Understanding why so many STEM kits don’t actually stick. Why it matters Most kits are fun for an afternoon—and forgotten by the next week.…
Latest from the Blog
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Why Kids Think STEM Is Difficult (And How Hands-On Learning Makes It Fun and Engaging)
How Do We Change the Perception That STEM Is “Too Hard”? Somewhere along the way, a lot of kids start to believe the same thing: STEM is hard.STEM…
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Why Hands-On STEM Learning Helps Kids Understand Faster and Remember Longer
The Moment Everything Changes in Learning There’s a moment you can actually see when it happens. It’s when a student stops asking:“Why do I need to know this?”…
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STEM Isn’t About Being Smart — It’s About Being Curious
For a long time, STEM has been framed as something only “smart kids” do.The kids who raise their hands first.The kids who finish worksheets the fastest.The kids who…
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What Makes a STEM Kit Actually Educational?
STEM kits are everywhere — on store shelves, in gift guides, and all over social media feeds. They promise to spark curiosity, build skills, and inspire the next…
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How Displaying Kids’ Projects Boosts Their Motivation to Learn STEM
If you’ve ever watched a child proudly show off something they made — a drawing, a Lego build, a poster, a craft — you already know the power…