---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes parents squash students'…"
description: "\"Sometimes parents squash students' interests because they are afraid of science or math. So they don't participate. You don't have to know the answers ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/mae-jemison-9290_answers_sometimes-parents-squash-students-intere_2822636.jpg"
---

#  Sometimes parents squash students' interests because they…

![“Sometimes parents squash students' interests because they are afraid of science or math. So they don't participate. You don't have to know the answers to engage kids; you just have to let them know it's important.” quote by Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/mae-jemison-9290_answers_sometimes-parents-squash-students-intere_2822636.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/mae-jemison-9290_answers_sometimes-parents-squash-students-intere_2822636.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/mae-jemison-9290_answers_sometimes-parents-squash-students-intere_2822636.jpg)

> “Sometimes parents squash students' interests because they are afraid of science or math. So they don't participate. You don't have to know the answers to engage kids; you just have to let them know it's important.”

[Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Parents may unintentionally suppress curiosity, but engagement comes from showing importance, not answers.

**In simple terms:** Kids learn when they see why it matters, not just the answer.

Key Takeaway

Encourage curiosity by highlighting relevance.

Themes

education curiosity parenting science engagement

Mood

inspirational encouraging

Type

advisory motivational

When to use this quote

- classroom discussions
- parent‑child talks
- after‑school clubs

Key Concepts

growth mindset intrinsic motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you spark interest without expertise?
- What topics feel most important to kids?

A Different Perspective

Parents might lack knowledge to model curiosity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/)

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