Have you ever tried to teach a kid how to do something? Chances are that if it’s not super fun and engaging, kids will probably ignore what you’re saying. While it might be difficult to emphasize the importance of a quality career choice to kids, you can get them moving in the right direction by teaching them valuable technology skills like programing and robotics. Thankfully, with educational apps and tools, this is much easier to accomplish than, say, ten years ago.
If you’re fortunate enough to have children in your life that you think would make a great technological wiz, try introducing them to these educational tools. After all, major figures in the tech industry were presumably kids at one point, so why not foster a natural love of technology and turn it into something great?
Littlebits
It’s safe to say that one of the dreams of any kid is to have their own robot. There are plenty of kits out there that can help them make their very own. Littlebits helps kids create a myriad of devices. These could include security devices, Internet-connected Cloudbit devices, and plenty of other projects to keep them busy while helping them learn. By examining how their actions affect the world around them, children will be able to appreciate the wonders of technology right from the get-go.
Arduino/Genuino
If you have something more advanced in mind, you might be able to try out Arduino, as well as its sister brand Genuino. These open-source electronics platforms allow kids to build programs to light up LEDs, start motors, and plenty of other mechanical motions. In a way, it can be considered a sort of introduction to technologies like Raspberry Pi.
For a more intensive experience, there are other websites out there that can help kids learn more about technology. One example is Make Magazine, which allows kids to build Internet of Things projects and share them online with others.
Minecraft Education Edition
You’d be hard-pressed to find a kid who has never played the video game Minecraft. In fact, Minecraft is already being used to teach through its Education Edition, leveraging the popularity of the game to help kids learn more about programming. The kids will be capable of learning through various lessons, such as creating boolean logic gates and urban planning. In fact, you’d be surprised by how many schools have already tied Minecraft into their lessons and social development platforms.
What are some other ways that you can think of that can help kids appreciate and learn about modern technology? Let us know in the comments.
