As a parent, you’ve done the research, scrolled through the websites, maybe even attended an open house. The program looks great on the surface — colorful photos, impressive-sounding curriculum, maybe even a robot. But how do you really know if it’s the right fit for your child?
I’ve been there. And I’ve learned that the difference between a program that lights a child up and one that leaves them disengaged often comes down to a handful of things you won’t find on any flyer.
Here’s what I now look for — and what I encourage every Gotham STEM family to ask before signing that registration form.
Before you evaluate anything else, get clear on who your child is right now. Are they a builder who wants to get their hands on something immediately? A thinker who likes to understand the “why” before they dive in? A collaborator who thrives in group settings, or a kid who does their best work with a little space to focus?
The best STEM program in the world won’t work if it’s built for a different kind of learner. So before you fall in love with a curriculum, make sure it’s designed with your child’s learning style in mind.
Ask yourself: Does this program meet my child where they are, or where I wish they were?
Almost every STEM program claims to be hands-on. But there’s a big difference between following a step-by-step worksheet and actually designing, testing, failing, and trying again.
Real hands-on learning looks like this: a child is given a challenge, they come up with their own approach, they hit a wall, and they figure out how to move forward. That process — curiosity, experimentation, iteration — is where the real learning happens. It builds not just knowledge, but confidence and resilience.
When you speak with a program director, listen for whether kids are creators or just followers. Specifically, ask:
- Can you walk me through what a typical session looks like?
- Are children building something they designed themselves, or assembling a kit with predetermined outcomes?
- How much time do kids spend doing versus watching or listening?
A brilliant curriculum in the wrong hands becomes a missed opportunity. The instructor matters enormously — and not just their technical credentials.
Look for educators who:
- Are genuinely curious themselves — who ask kids questions instead of just giving them answers.
- Celebrate the “wrong” attempts as much as the successes, because they understand that struggle is part of the process.
- Give children space to work through frustration rather than stepping in immediately to fix things.
If you can, observe a class before committing. Watch how the instructor responds when a child gets frustrated. That response tells you everything about the culture of learning in that room.
This one matters more than most people realize. STEM learning is deeply personal — it requires a child to feel safe enough to take risks, ask questions, and sometimes fail publicly. That only happens when they have enough individual attention.
A good rule of thumb:
- For younger children (under 10), look for ratios of 6:1 or better.
- For older students in more independent work, up to 10:1 can work well.
- Anything higher than that in a hands-on setting is worth questioning.
A great STEM program should have a trajectory. It should be designed to grow with your child — challenging them appropriately at each stage and building on what they’ve already learned rather than repeating the same concepts year after year.
Ask: If my child loves this and wants to continue, what does that path look like? A program that can answer that question with confidence — that has a real roadmap for advancement — is one that’s genuinely invested in your child’s long-term development, not just their enrollment.
STEM fields are more powerful when they draw on a wide range of perspectives. A program that reflects diverse instructors, diverse participants, and projects that connect to real-world challenges your child cares about will stretch their thinking in ways that matter.
This is especially important for girls and kids from underrepresented communities, who may not always see themselves reflected in the STEM spaces they encounter. Representation isn’t just feel-good — it’s a signal that a program is intentional about who it’s building the next generation for.
Don’t be shy about this one. Ask the program: What do families tell you about what changes in their child? Look for testimonials, alumni outcomes, or even an invitation to speak with a current family.
A program that’s doing meaningful work will have stories to tell — and will be proud to tell them.
After all the research, after all the questions, pay attention to how your child responds when you describe the program to them. Do their eyes light up? Do they seem curious or excited? Or does the description feel like something they’re being pushed toward?
And trust your own instincts too. If something feels off — if a program can’t clearly articulate its philosophy, if the trial session feels chaotic or uninspired — pay attention to that signal.
When you’re ready to speak with a program director, these questions cut through the marketing:
- How do you handle it when a child gets frustrated or wants to give up? The answer reveals whether they’ve thought seriously about how children actually learn.
- Can you share an example of a lesson that didn’t go as planned — and what you did? Educators who can answer this with specifics are the ones you want teaching your child.
- How do you differentiate for kids who are moving faster or need more support? Great programs have an answer ready. Generic ones will fumble.
- What does a typical session look like — how much time do kids spend doing versus watching? You want to hear “mostly doing” before you hear anything else.
Finding the right STEM program is a little like finding the right book for a reluctant reader. The content matters, but so does the timing, the format, and the spark it creates. When you find the right match, you’ll know it — because your child will come home talking about it.
That’s exactly why Gotham STEM exists: to help you cut through the noise, ask the right questions, and find the experiences that genuinely inspire. We’ve done a lot of the legwork so you don’t have to — but you’re still the expert on your child.
Use that expertise. Ask the hard questions. And don’t settle until you find the program that makes your kid feel like a builder, a thinker, and a problem-solver.