An Ordinary Mom's Musings

Book Review of Venture Girls Raising Girls to be Tomorrow’s Leaders
by Cristal Glangchai PhD

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I randomly picked this book up off the librarian’s suggested books, bookshelf and I’m so glad I did. I think every mother should read it. While the author mainly focuses on girls she states many times that her methods are just as applicable to boys.

She addresses the disparity of women in STEM fields and shows that what is needed is an entrepreneurial mindset for our children to succeed.

Girls need to be taught to look for problems in their world and then be empowered to make changes and build things that can institute those changes. Girls are traditionally more drawn to making changes for the better in our world. Giving them the tools to do that makes STEM subjects much more appealing to them.

Filled with practical tips and ideas to promote entrepreneurial mindsets.

Dr. Glangchai doesn’t just spout philosophy but gives practical tips, ideas, and experiments throughout the book for kids to try. My daughter wants to have a party with her friends this summer and there are several activities she suggests that I think would make great games to try for a fun day with friends.

One of the things that really surprised me as I was reading the book was how my brain was busy working in the background. Things that I hadn’t even identified consciously that I was concerned about or working on, suddenly answers just popped into place.

For example, both my kids love to write and want to write. But they often feel that the only ideas they have are to take books or movies they know and expound on that story. And while that can be a great step to learning how to write, I had felt a desire to help them find their own ideas. Suddenly as I was reading this book I realized that I had the answer. I had just finished reviewing an ebook for someone on writing and at the end of the book, she put nearly 400 writing ideas to keep you busy for a whole year. While some of the subjects wouldn’t work for a 10 and 12-year-old, many would, and they are just supposed to be ideas to get you started. All I had to do was print out that section of the book and put it where my children could access it.

This and other similar experiences as I was reading this book made me realize that the author is on the right track. I and many other women I know are drawn to making the world a better place. An entrepreneurial mindset means that we are teaching our kids to be problem solvers. We are teaching them to think outside the box, to find creative solutions to their, and the world’s problems. That isn’t always going to take you to STEM subjects but it is a different mindset that our world and country can greatly benefit from and will make our daughters want to suceed.

I highly recommend all mothers find a copy of Venture Girls and read it. I don’t think you’ll regret it