Little Ms. Crate is a fun monthly crate subscription for 5-10 year old girls that introduces a new career in STEM or Leadership — and its women role models — each month. They just launched their Kickstarter (they're already a Staff Pick!) and here’s why you should back their project and get this crate into the hands of your favorite little girl.

1. Combating the idea that STEM subjects are “not for them” [girls]

Many of us know that girls begin losing interest in STEM subjects as early as elementary school. One of the main reasons that girls report losing interest in STEM subjects is a general feeling that these subjects are simply "not for them". Our society and educational system creates a prevailing sense that these fields just aren't "right" for women, or vice versa. Little Ms. Crate introduces these careers early on and with role model examples, little girls see that STEM and Leadership careers ARE for them.

2. Learning with original, custom-designed activities

Instead of containing a curated selection of 3rd party goods like other crate services, the majority of Little Ms. Crate's contents are designed by Little Ms. Crate's panel of early childhood development experts and parents, specifically to inspire and facilitate the type of creative, open-ended, and social play that is the most natural for young girls.

3. Developing skills so girls believe they can do STEM

Many little girls have fun today playing at mommy, nurse, or veterinarian. In doing so, they start to understand why those jobs are important, what skills it takes to be good at those jobs, what sorts of things they might enjoy about that job, and which subjects are important to study if they want to pursue that job. Through this "make believe" exploration, they develop the sense that they could do those jobs, if they chose. Little Ms. Crate simply introduces other important professions, so our girls can learn, get comfortable, and "make believe" with them, too.

4. Introducing female role models in STEM and Leadership

Men make up 75% of the STEM workforce, 80% of Congress, 93% of CEOs, and 95% of tech founders. Studies have shown that little girls who meet or know of a female in STEM or Leadership are more likely to associate women with STEM and Leadership roles. Using a female role model in each crate, Little Ms. Crate aims to strengthen the association and teach little girls everywhere about the accomplishments and discoveries of women in STEM and Leadership.

Empower little girls everywhere by backing the Kickstarter project for Little Ms. Crate: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rcraig3/little-ms-crate. The Nerdist was pretty excited about the Advisory Board reward:

You can back the project at levels from $5 to $500. The tiers include subscriptions for varying lengths of time and even the opportunity for a little girl to become part of the advisory board for the company — she’d get the experience of learning how the business grows from the ground up.