Creative Robotics with Lego

Does your kid like Lego building blocks?

Does your kid spend a lot of time with Lego building blocks?

If the answer to the above 2 Qs are "YES", then here’s something that may interest you – Creative Robotics.

We have enrolled Max in Creative Robotix classes.

The kids learned about robot-building with Lego building blocks and taught about programing with the robot. Each week, a new mission challenge competition is introduced and the kids are allowed their own freedom to build their own robot using Lego Mindstorm NXT V2.0, a programmable robotic kit to achieve the mission objectives.

The best in the class is adjudged based on creativity, mission achievement, strongest-toughest and fastest.

When we enrolled Max for this class, at his request, Lego being his passion, we intended for him to have playmates with similar passion and having fun.  Playing together will help kids improve communication skills and learn interactions. And, we thought this might make a good hobby for him.

Surprisingly, Max won 2 awards so far, the Creative Award and Mission Award.

Lego robotics would be a natural progression from the existing creative yet static colourful blocks.

I’m glad we enrolled him for this class, he seems very happy here and is always looking forward to the next class.

The price is pretty steep at RM190 per 4 lessons or RM510 for 12 lessons (once weekly 2 hours) in a class of 10-14pax.

Check it out here.

You can also purchase the Lego Mindstorm NXT V2.0 online here.

Rita

School Term-break - Kidzania Kuala Lumpur

Each school holidays will have me thinking up activities for my kid to fill up his time with fun and learning experience. I’m sure most parents do that too. 


And, we found just the one last week – at Kidzania, Kuala Lumpur!

(Kidzania,Kuala Lumpur)

Kids get to experience adult’s world in a mini kids-city with some familiar brands to relate to such as Air Asia, TM, KPJ Healthcare, Nippon Paint, Honda, CIMB Bank, BP, Hitz FM and Sony to name a few. It's an indoor edu-entertainment theme park MINUS the computer games, carousel, roller-coaster!

It’s in CurveNX, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, beside IKEA and connected via SkyBridge from the Curve. As you turn into Jalan PJU 7/2, the Curve is on your left and IPC (Ikano Power Centre)/IKEA on your right. Further down, right after Curve, you will see TESCO,  on your left and just directly opposite is Kidzania, ahead to the right. You won't miss it!

The nose of a plane of AirAsia juts out of the side of the building.

Computer Games and Kids

Just sharing my thoughts here on Computer Games and Kids.

So, computer games are bad for kids!

Not entirely true. This has been disturbing us seeing many kids spending many hours in front of PC, laptop, iPhone, iPad, mobile phones, PSP and PS3. According to some researches, there are a number of benefits. But, like all other things, too much of everything is not good.

After weighing the ‘goods’ and ‘bads’ of computer games, we decided to allow the little one between 30mins to 1 hour per session, mostly with either parent to guide and share.. (erhm…the fun!). We ensures that he gets a balance of indoor and outdoor activities, so as not to strain his eyes and getting sufficient fresh outdoor air.

Here’s one site I found which is pretty interesting and my little one enjoys a few games on weekends and during the holidays when he has completed his homework.

coolmath-games

The followings are Max’s favourites,

IQ Ball 

Playpals

The 4 boys took up my challenge! 


What a noticeable difference...in dB (decibel) ... it was so peaceful and quiet for 47 minutes! Amazing!


I could see the look of concentration on the kids, creased brows, intense focus on putting the pieces together, one boy was seen chewing his lower lips, peeking at their friends work and trying to out-do with better looking robot-android..haha...wished I'm a pro photographer. The pics would be priceless!


The boys have at least 2000-3000 pieces available at their disposal, sockets, joints, claws, flexible tubes, wheels, gears... Yes, letting their imagination run. 


Creativity = Fun-Time


And, the winners get stickers. *wink-wink* All received a sticker each or their wonderful creation. And, another sticker each for clearing and putting away the unused lego pieces and for good sportsmanship. 


Here's what they did,

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Kids Holiday Activities

Happy playmates

As I’m writing this posting, there are darts flying over my head from the Nerf guns and one just whizzed pass my left ear. One of them suited in cardboard armour (Max) and the others hiding behind the sofa, the dining table and the indoor potted plants. I have 4 boys in my house now, 3 of them age 7-8, Max’s classmate and one, age 6, the younger brother of one of the boys.

(@..@) 4 boys sounding like a dozen boys here! Mine has to be noisiest house on the street now! Can you just imagine?

Well, it’s school holidays…! It’s time for the kids to have some fun with kids of the same age. Never mind that Mommy needs some ear-plugs, let them have some fun and Mommy’s job is to keep the boys’ tummies filled. J

Fun-time with playmates makes good memories for kids. Kids learn from playing, they learn to interact, to share, to work together, to compete, to negotiate, to have group fun and to learn from each other. I remember I grew up having so much fun with the kids in the neighbourhood, cycling, exploring, camping in the backyard (with all amenities close by, of course).

Next, I’m trying to get them to settle down a little with some organised play after the “good-guy-go-after-the bad-guy” play. This good guy-bad guy stuff is largely motivated by their inner human spirit’s desire for power. They admire power, strength and courage…aiikkk…another dart just whizzed pass my tummy as I'm writing this post.

I’ve just thrown out a challenge to them to make the “Coolest” robot-android with the lego pieces (combination of pieces from 9 Bionicle sets, Technic set, duplo set, Mars, creator set, exo-force sets and some others)


I'll tell you what happens next ...

School Mid-term Break

School mid-term break is in for 2 weeks starting yesterday. As both my hubby and I are unable to take the little guy away for a family holiday for now, we have made some plans for the little guy.

Here’s something we found that is good family activity – Origami!

Origami (Japanese: 折り紙; ori, to fold, and kami, paper; "folding paper") is the Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create three-dimensional paper figures using geometric folds and crease patterns. Today, origami refers to all types of paper folding, even those of non-Japanese origin. 

I found in my ‘treasure box” a stack of colour origami papers which is approximately 6”x 6” that I bought from Daiso (a slowly gaining popularity, RM5.00 per item concept chain store).

And, we found a helpful friend in Youtube! The little guy followed the video and made a butterfly himself!

To start off, here’s one of a simple jumping frog that kids love, especially toddlers…


And this is what he did with his Dad this afternoon,

Origami fireworks

Kids love origami. We started origami as a family activity when the little guy was just 2+, showing him and then teaching him how to make a ball, a simple boat, a jet-plane and a crane.

Some of the stuff he has done when he has the time.

You may want to read more about the benefits of origami. Here’s what some experts say about origami.

Origami builds fine motor skills and is a fun family craft. It can help develop fine motor skill.

…and in the medical field,

“..Many therapists use paperfolding in their fields of medicine. Physical therapist use origami as a fun way to exercise hand muscles that they are trying to rehabilitate. People who suffer from arthritis or other physical problems also report that as they fold origami figures, the muscles in their hands are strengthened. Psychologists, as well, are using origami in their medical field. They have found that the coordinated work of both hands when folding origami helps with the development of motor skills, as well as attention, memory, and imagination processes. The folding of origami can also be helpful to some people because it can be a tool by which they can relieve stress” Extracted from http://library.thinkquest.org

Check this up, at RachelKatz's site and if you want to know more of the history of origami.

The crane is perhaps the most popular origami model, click here for a tutorial. Make this a fun family activity this school holiday with your kids.

The Crane is a symbol of peace…

A visit to the local shopping mall, Sunway Pyramid last month, we saw many paper cranes folded by customers and visitors, to let the Japanese know that we understand, we care and we sympathise with their loss in the recent earthquake that devastated the north-eastern coast of their largest main island, Honshu.

TO JAPAN WE CARE @ SUNWAY PYRAMID

According to a well-known Japanese legend, a thousand origami cranes will make wishes come true and the messages written on the wings will reach the desired person.
This initiative is supported by the Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL).

If you are keen, you can visit your local bookstore for some books on Origami and you can also order some good ones from Amazon.


































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Holiday Fun Stuff


Have a fun school break!