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This Wednesday, February 11, is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

When we think of "Women in Science," our brains usually default to the history books. We think of Marie Curie in a lab coat or Jane Goodall with the chimps.

But this day isn't just about honoring the past. It is about fixing the future.

Statistics show that girls and boys are equally interested in math and science until about age 11. Then, a gap opens.

Sociologists call it "The Dream Gap." Girls start to internalize the idea that science is "for boys" or that being "smart" isn't cool.

This Wednesday, we are pushing back against the gap.

We don't need to force our daughters to memorize the Periodic Table. We just need to encourage their questions, tolerate their messes, and buy them the tools that actually work.

Here is how to celebrate the next generation of engineers, astronauts, and coders.

The Upgrade: Stop Buying "Pink" Science Kits

For years, the "science aisle" for girls was tragic. It was mostly "Make Your Own Perfume" or "Sparkly Soap Kits."

Science isn't about smelling nice. It’s about building, breaking, and analyzing.

If you are buying a gift this week, skip the pink tax and buy the real gear.

• The Pick: Snap Circuits.

• Why it wins: It teaches actual electrical engineering logic. You build working radios, doorbells, and alarms. It is satisfying, loud, and incredibly educational.
  Shop Snap Circuits on Amazon

• The Coding Option: Kano Coding Kits.

• The Vibe: It turns screen time into creation time. It teaches the logic behind the pixels.

The Read: Modern Heroes (Not Just History)

It is important to show girls that scientists are real people working today, not just figures in dusty textbooks.

• For Little Kids: Ada Twist, Scientist.

• Why: It normalizes the "Why?" phase. It shows that making a mess and failing is part of the process.

• Shop Ada Twist Books

• For Older Kids: Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky.

• Why: It features 50 fearless pioneers, but the illustrations are modern, hip, and engaging. It covers everyone from computer scientists to marine biologists.

The Conversation: The "Black Hole" Effect

If you want to blow your kids' minds at the dinner table on Wednesday, talk about Dr. Katie Bouman.

She is the computer scientist who, at 29 years old, led the creation of the algorithm that took the first-ever picture of a Black Hole.

She represents the modern face of STEM: Collaborative, young, and brilliant.

The Activity: The "Kitchen Lab"

You don't need a Bunsen burner to do chemistry.

Wednesday night, turn the kitchen into a lab.

• The Classic: Baking Soda + Vinegar Volcano (it never gets old).

• The Engineering Challenge: The "Egg Drop." Give them a pile of straws and tape, and challenge them to build a cage that protects an egg when dropped from standing height.

Let Them Be Curious

The most important thing we can do for girls in science is to stop telling them to be "careful" and start telling them to be "curious."

Let them mix the potion. Let them take apart the toaster. Let them ask "Why?" one more time.

Happy Women in Science Day!

Who Is Your Little Scientist?

Does your daughter love dinosaurs? Is she obsessed with space?

Snap a photo of her "in her element" (even if she’s covered in mud) and tag us on TikTok or Instagram at @OnManyOccasions.

Let’s show the world what the future of science looks like!

Don't Miss a Date

We are halfway through February!

Valentine's Day is this Saturday (Feb 14) and Random Acts of Kindness Day is coming up on Feb 17.

Stay organized with our Free 2026 Celebration Calendar.