Parent Engagement and Preschoolers’ STEM School Readiness: A Community Intervention with At-Risk Families

This study examined a family-centered strategy designed to support parental confidence and children’s early STEM development through shared learning experiences. The program engaged 826 parents and preschool-aged children from communities historically underrepresented in STEM, including many Latinx/Hispanic and Spanish-speaking families, in seven weeks of hands-on STEM activities and home-based enrichment tasks. Results showed significant improvements in parental efficacy and children’s STEM readiness following program participation. Strong gains were observed among Spanish-speaking and Latinx/Hispanic families and among parents with diverse educational backgrounds. These findings highlight the value of family-centered STEM programs that build on parents’ active engagement with their children’s learning and support early STEM exploration within everyday family interactions. Overall, the results suggest that community-based interventions can support early STEM readiness while expanding opportunities for meaningful family engagement in STEM learning.