As the happy grandfather of five (four of whom are girls) I am trying to do everything I can to encourage and support my grands in STEM in general and math in particular.

My own unfortunate experiences with math in public school sadly kept me from enjoying it until I was nearly finished with college. This in turn, greatly slowed me from pursuing what I really wanted to do (teaching High School Biology).

I don’t want any children to have to repeat my experience.

I know that I am preaching to the choir, but our world can ill afford to squander talent by allowing bright young people to get their enthusiasm dampened by antiquated ideas about gender and career choices. We will need all of the brain power available if we are to succeed in the current and future challenges facing our species.

Just as you suggest, there are so many ways to make learning math (even the basics) genuinely fun. I take every opportunity the share these with my grands and praise them, especially when their bright young minds allow them to beat me in various math related games!