Lego Leagues or Robotics for Kids Programs in This Area?
My youngest son is interested in most things electronic. I recently looked back at the blog I wrote a couple years ago and I laugh. I remember that time. My little guy was only 4 and his Christmas list consisted of a long list of toys and, of all things, an extension cord. Vividly, I remember our son telling us that, even though we didn't want him to have an extension cord, Santa would see the list and give him one anyway.
(Santa proved him wrong!)
Well, it's been two years and my son still likes playing with cords (!) - and he will jump at the chance to participate in anything to do with motors, connecting cords to electronics, putting things together, and all loud things that scare his mom! I doubt he will put anything as unusual as an extension cord on a Christmas list again. However, I am certain that his interest in electronics will always stay with him.
This summer, Discovery World held an electronic robot Lego League camp. This camp (which is a small fortune) teaches robotics to kids using a Lego product called Lego Mindstorms. Because the Discovery World camps are for 7 years and older - I wasn't able to get my little guy (who's 6 years old) in the camp (yet). But my older son did go.
Basically, this camp teaches kids to put together electronic robots. Once the robot is together, the kids are then taught the basic computer programming skills required to move the robots and various challenges for the robots. This was such a fun and rewarding experience for the kids! Even my older son - who isn't really interested in building things but does enjoy computers and any kind of challenge - loved it.
Now I have two wishes:
Next year - somehow - I'd like to sign my little guy up for this camp - just to see the excitement on his face. The camp is expensive - but hopefully we can swing the price and hopefully it will be worth it.
Even more so - next year or a year or two after, it would be nice if Cudahy - or somewhere close - had something like this - some kind of "robotics for young kids" program. I'm not sure if there would be much demand for a program like this. However, I'm sure I don't have the only child who has a passion for taking things apart and learning how things work. Plus, a program like this may redirect a child (my son) away from doing something CRAZY - like attempting to rewire our house when we're not looking!
(This thought currently terrifies the life out of me!)
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My 7 yr old is the same too! The cheapest I can find Lego Mindstorms is for $250.00 and were not yet willing to spend that kind of money for any kind of toy. My son loves regular legos but even more so, he loves robots and all the time want to build one. Both husband and I work in finance and know very little about putting anything together. We do enjoy going to American Science and Surplus too, but our son is easily frustrated with his parents who barely know what switches are!
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Yes - I remember General Mitchell throwing the demonstration to generate interest for this program. However, I don't think it worked. General Mitchell, to my knowledge doesn't have a program like this. My guess is maybe they didn't get the word out enough? Or maybe parents didn't know what a Lego League was (it's learning robotics - not putting together Legos - like I originally thought)? Or most likely - they just couldn't find anyone to lead the program (my kids are in scouts and finding people to lead is an ongoing challenge). I don't know.
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http://www.cudahynow.com/blogs/institutionalblogs/50638537.html
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My 4 year old is on that same path as yours. That Lego Mindstorm costs too
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Back to topLisbeth Salendar - Aug 08, 2010 10:06 PM - Report Abuse
We found this webpage http://www.discoverthis.com/electricity.html. This has a lot of the kits that are in Greenfield News and Hobby (quick to bore). We do very much enjoy all the snap circuit kits though. My son loves these kits and they are safe too.
Heather Liban - Aug 07, 2010 12:24 PM - Report Abuse
My kids go to Lincoln - yes, I will look into getting something like this at Lincoln. Hopefully, it will have a better turnout - or interest. I just worry - that without people with the knowledge to lead something like this - our efforts won't work. I have a lot of skills - however, electronics, putting things together, and robotics is definitely, definitely, definitely not one of them - for my husband's either (ha - my husband also jokes that his kids need a smarter dad.)
JTMom - Aug 07, 2010 11:33 AM - Report Abuse
Last Year General Mitchell had the First Lego League come and do a
demonstration in hopes of getting a team together.. Perhaps your son's
school may show an interest in doing the same?
RichF - Aug 07, 2010 7:12 AM - Report Abuse
much for a 4 year old kids toy. Greenfield Hobby shop has some nice little
science/robot kits for about $15 but they are really only good for an hour or
two. American Science and Surplus has everything a little creative mind could
want but you need the knowledge to put it all together. We have been collecting
old computers and all sorts of motors/switches/wire from everything we are
about to toss out. The boy is convinced he is going to build a robot, I think I
need to find him a smarter dad. I'll be following this to see what others come
up with.