Robotics Toys

Being the parent of a young girl has given me some perspective in education which I didn't have prior to becoming a Daddy. I want my daughter to have advantages I didn't have economically as well as in education. One area I find this important is in science and engineering education.

A New Opportunity

Personally I didn't have much exposure to anything very exciting except for the typical grade-school curriculum until I was almost in high-school. This is a shame because there are so many exciting aspects to science that I missed out in--astronomy, electronics, robotics and engineering to name just a few.

Now that I am an adult I tinker with these as a hobbyist, but I want to encourage my young girl to get involved in technology and science as early as possible.

What's All This New Technology?

One method to do this is by using robotics toys and games to introduce to a lot of these different and interesting subjects. What do I mean by robotics toys or, more generally, science toys?

Well, if you live near any toy store, most of them have a section of toys that are educational. I'm not talking about the boring education stuff you or I grew up with, these are much more exciting interactive toys, games and robots that not only teach, but which also, thanks to amazing technologies that weren't around 20 years ago, excite children to learn more about technology.

Digital video and audio, DVDs, books with integrated circuit boards and lights--they all add up to a fun way to find out about the exciting world we live in. What I wouldn't give to be able to relive my childhood with all these amazing gadgets.

To Encourage, Involve

Girls in particular don't seem to receive the encouragement they need to get involved with science and technology in school. Even though we've come a long ways towards equal treatment for everyone, it still feels like female are encouraged away from science and technology. This is a shame as I think diversity of opinion and viewpoint not only is good for science, but also is critical to advance us in our march of progress.

So, after all this, you may be asking why do I encourage girls to get involved in robotic toys and other gadgets? Why does it encourage them especially?

The answer is not in the technology itself, but in the opportunities it creates for involvement with peers.

Where to Get Involved

Since the internet has shrunk our world so much, it is now easy to find other like-minded children and parents who share the desire to promote education.

There are ever more opportunities for teams of girls to participate in competitions like the Trinity Firefighting Home Robot contest, which is a popular contest for school-aged kids and which regularly gets a good mix of female teams participating.

Local robot clubs are becoming more friendly and accepting towards younger students who have a knack for technology and who are driven to participate and demonstrate their knowledge.

Why not consider getting your daughter (or any child) involved with robotics toys to get them started in technology and the world of learning science? I hope to see you at the next robot club meeting.