Category: Applied Design, Skill and Technology
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Tangram
Engaging, encourages critical thinking, lots of screen free time, no mess, no sound, suitable for both younger and older kids. I’ve even found myself playing a few puzzles!
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Buliding toys easier clean-up than Lego
Wood is preferable than plastic. These wooden building toys are creative, has different connections than Lego. Encourages different type of construction. Easier to clean up than Lego. And hurt feet less, Legos can hurt if accidentally stepped on. Applies practical maths: estimating how many pieces needed, measuring spacing, balancing structure.
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Gardening – a rewarding and educational experience
Gardening can be rewarding and educational. It does require patience, as plants in real life don’t grow immediately like in computer games. Also needs dedication, for watering regularly and removing weeds. Harvesting crops is always fun. And the flowers are so nice to look at. Alhamdulillah. Some concepts for deep diving : soil testing for…
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Building Toys
Toys for building or construction can be used for a wide range of ages among children. Older kids just makes complex structures with same pieces. These are fun and challenging. Children learn critical thinking, design, etc.
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Lego-Technic
This toy has been a hit for kids in different age groups. These are challenging, fun, and has motors, and remote control features. There are a variety of gears. More pieces can be separately added to the set. The kids made cars and competed against each other which was much fun.
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Cross-stitch
Cross stitch requires the hoop, thread, needle, cross-stitch cloth (also called aida cloth) and lots of patience. The above project took more than a year. Kids can earn lots of confidence, and also become happy to see their project hanging on the wall. (Framing was done separately.)
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Wood working – Whittling
Whittling can be a fun challenge for adventurous kids. It can be very low – resource requiring craft, but can yield usable and durable projects. A simple knife and fallen tree branch (or twigs) can be sufficient. Younger kids will need adult help.
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Steam Challenge: Lego Bridge
This Lego Challenge was making a bridge that could carry the most load. They used rocks for load.
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Melt and Pour Soap Making
Melt and Pour soap are easy to make, does need adult supervision. We bought the Melt-and-Pour soap, (1) melted it in a double boiler, (it can be melted in microwave as well), (2) added scent and color, (3)and finally poured in the molds. What I learnt form YT vids – don’t over heat the soap,…
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Useful 3D Prints
Most of the 3d prints prints we did feels like just-for-fun, without much practical use. But it was fun for the kids, it did help to improve their computer skills. I think personalized bookmarks, key chains, nametags, are somethings that are actually useful. TinkerCad and Ultimake Cura softwares were used (both are free). TinkerCad is…