Curriculum for children - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: bobula
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 07, 2017, 04:13:09 pm
content: My first child is due very soon and I'm looking forward to sharing my love of electronics with her. I know I'm asking this question several years early, however I'm interested in your thoughts. What projects / topics do you think are best for young children? I'm looking for something easy to understand yet "flashy" enough to grab their interest. I think LEDs and push buttons are good places to start, but what else comes to mind?Second, when do you think it's time to move into intermediate things? Any ideas for slightly more advanced topics?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2017, 04:33:57 pm
content: Quote from: bobula on January 07, 2017, 04:13:09 pmThe first thing you have to do is find out if your child is (going to be) interested in science, mechanisms and technology. This is an inherent part of a child's makeup (some are "arty", some are "techy", some are "literary", some are "musical", and so on).What you really have to do is observe your child growing up and find out what she is attracted to and what she asks to play with. Make all options available for her to choose from and see what she likes--but unfortunately you cannot "funnel" a child down a path if that is not what makes them tick.

author: alanb
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2017, 06:20:24 pm
content: Wait until your child is borne and then do the things that you enjoy in their presence. Your love of electronics will be picked up by them and over time you will be able to do things together. There is no need to pre-plan, see how things go.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2017, 06:23:48 pm
content: You will also find very quickly that your child develops a personality as an independent being, and she will start wanting to share with you whatsheloves doing.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2017, 08:37:20 pm
content: Just gave 'm this:http://www.fisher-price.com/nl_NL/products/Denken-en-Leren-Co-de-Rups-DKT39

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2017, 11:14:32 pm
content: Pure Troll Alarm here.An unborn child, needing electronics indoctrination?Wow! just wow!I'm impressed with "bobula", who with just one post managed to wind otherwise serious contributors up. Folks, get it together. How can you take a question like this seriously? You need to rethink your social environment - really!

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2017, 11:36:49 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on January 07, 2017, 11:14:32 pmActually, I have experienced first hand the example of a parent trying to interest a child in technical stuff, and maybe the child is just not that interested? As the saying goes, you can lead a horse to the water, but you cannot make it drink.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2017, 11:50:00 pm
content: QuoteYes... well... feel free to mentor bobula. A bit difficult before the child is born, though. Let's continue this thread in 15 years.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2017, 04:01:31 pm
content: The little RTL 2832 U USB SDR dongles are great tech presents for older kids and cost very little, less than $10 in quantity.They are SO useful it might be good to buy a bunch to give friends, kids, family.Are you familiar with them?

author: sainbablo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2017, 04:44:46 pm
content: HiFeed baby well. Close contact and parental warmth. Watch milestones.After 3 months or so baby may well start responding to auditory and visual stimulationslike soft music, low intensity coloured lights and images.'Ice Tea' mentions Fisher-Price products which will be more suitable after 6 monthsor so. These are designed to stimulate voluntary muscle control, visual fixation on flashy coloredobjects.Coming on to your favourite subject electronics, don't be disappointed if child veers off indifferent directions. Let the baby have her own independence of reflexes which will indicateher preferences of one activity over another. Then having determined that, help her cultivate in that direction.Children tend to follow their peers so if you keep her near as an observer from safe distance,whilewhatever electronic related task you are performing, she may follow you.All the best

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2017, 05:42:11 pm
content: The fisher price I mentioned is supposed to be the first steps towards "programming", so a bit more specific

author: sainbablo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2017, 06:15:01 pm
content: Can't argue with you "Ice -Tea" since Lipton is my favourite brand of tea

author: darinsquared
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 03:25:26 am
content: I do not think there is anything wrong with doing that. Start by showing them cool things you can do with electronics, the simpler the better.I wish to this day I would have been "forced" to learn to play a musical instrument.Every kid in school should learn the basics of electronics and computer programming.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 04:16:16 am
content: Have to take advantage of those early years when the brain is growing by leaps and bounds. It will never grow like that again.

author: EPTech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 11:15:01 am
content: Hi There,My daughter is about to turn 3. I am not pushing her in any direction. Kids are curious by nature. When she comes to visit me in the lab, she asks me what certain things are and I answer her. She recognises a PCB, a capacitor, a resistor, an IC and some tools by know. That of course brings me great joy, because the first seed of interest has been planted. Besides my DSO I also have a vintage Tectronix in the corner and she helps me to keep the knobs in condition because she is always fiddling with them and I let her. If she grows up to be interested in something else I will support her the best I can but if she has an interest in tech, I will make her great at it.Happy educating...