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 

So sorry for this Mom...

I was truly appalled when I read this. While we understand that a Company is not a charitable organisation, the Company is run by people and the management is made of people, human with hearts! Although there are many cases of abuse by employees, it is hope HR can identify genuine cases.

I’m sure some arrangements can be made… with humanity consideration given to the employee concerned. 

Here's an article that caught my eye.

Philadelphia Woman Said She Was Fired for Taking Time Off to Donate Kidney to Son

By SUSANNA KIM

Sept. 13, 2011

Claudia Rendon, 41, of Philadelphia, said her employer, Aviation Institute of Maintenance, fired her after she took time off to donate a kidney to her son. Rendon said the school was also trying to collect up to $2,000 from her son, a student at the school, related to his sick leave.


(pic extracted from Circle of Mom)

Rendon, who worked for a year and a half in the school's admissions office, said she notified the school that she planned to take leave on July 19 to undergo kidney transplant surgery on July 21 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on behalf of her 22-year-old son, Alex, whose kidney failed last January. After extensive testing in early July, Rendon was found to be a match.

"I would do it all over again. No questions asked," Rendon said.

Kidney transplant surgery normally requires at least six to eight weeks of recovery time, and Rendon said the Aviation Institute agreed to give Rendon unpaid leave until Sept. 1. Rendon told ABCNews.com that on her last day of work before the surgery, her manager promised Rendon she would have her job upon her return, but one hour later, asked her to sign a letter acknowledging that her job was not secured.

"They said, 'If you don't sign this letter, you are abandoning your job and quitting,'" Rendon told ABCNews.com. "I said, 'I am not abandoning my job. I am saving my son's life.'"

Read more here