Getting your child started in robotics can be confusing as you try to figure out where to begin. Robotics can provide a bright future for your child, but understanding how to start is quite critical.
Giving your child proper education in robotics requires you to consider the child’s age to ensure that the topics covered to match your kid’s ability to understand. With the right techniques, you can start with the basics early and move on to more complex issues as your child grows.
1. Introduce small projects at an early age
Overwhelming your child with hard tasks can make them disinterested and disengaged. For instance, introducing young people to robots in food manufacturing before acquiring simple problem-solving skills may confuse them. However, if your child is learning something new, you may expect them to be frustrated initially, but they don’t have to give up altogether.
One of the best ways to promote robotics education in a child is to start them off with simple tasks when they are still young. You could start with toys and then progress to robots as you monitor their progress. From building vehicles and houses, you can encourage the child to create a wide range of other structures and objects.
The most important thing is to help the child learn about critical thinking and basic problem-solving skills. This can create a fun learning environment that is challenging for the child. Some toy games provide excellent kits to create a pathway of introducing robotics to your child.
Since robotics is simple to understand, your child can grasp an introduction to programming. Learning how to program physical robots can enable a child to understand what robots can do. This can make them self-motivated to do greater things. Building robots is also a great way of boosting self-confidence and self-esteem.
2. Enroll your child in a good robotics program
Due to leadership and budget constraints, robotics programs are not available in all public schools. Some schools have robotics programs offered as electives. As a parent, you may find it challenging to find good STEM education resources for your child. Schools may play a role in finding STEM educational facilities, but it is your choice.
Consult the school to find out if it has an active robotics club. If the school provides robotics education, confirm its accessibility and quality. Some clubs may not have quality and accessible robotics programs that you may desire for your child. If robotics is part of the school curriculum, consider the following aspects before enrolling your child:
- Who are the program targets?
- What is the meeting frequency?
- What is the size of the program?
- What activities are offered in the program?
- Who are the program leaders, and what are their qualifications?
- Which resources are available in the program?
- What are other parents’ opinions about the program?
If, in your opinion, the school does not do things satisfactorily, find resources elsewhere. Many states have good private robotics clubs. If you want to switch schools for your child, consider one that has quality robotics programs.
3. Take advantage of online communities
Online robotics communities are good if your child enjoys self-taught lessons. Letting your child pursue online projects and participate in lessons enables them to gain confidence and interest in robotics.
Online community projects provide creative and fun challenges to bring robotics education into the child’s everyday life. You can encourage your child to participate in step-by-step lessons that demonstrate converting toys into robots build new gadgets and create household tools.
As your child grows, they can learn real-world skills like electric wiring, circuit building, and soldering. The interactive learning sessions are enjoyable, and you will be sure that your child will build life-long skills with time.
Some online communities can customize and hack technologies to do things they were not initially meant to do. They can transform gadgets into great experiments and toys into musical instruments.
Others use electronics to create awesome prototypes through which your child can learn life skills. Through online communities, a child can identify what robots can do and what they cannot do.
4. Find a mentor
Having a mentor for your child is helpful regardless of what your child’s interests are. One of the simplest ways of finding a mentor for your child is to engage in online community projects. This can help the child see the people who are applying robotics knowledge to make a difference in society.
Allowing your child to participate in robotics-based projects can allow them to continue working on their skills. With time, they can sour into space, design video games, and create social networks.
Mentoring a child in robotics learning increases the rate at which the child can use new technologies. A mentor can offer direction and guidance, which means sharing knowledge and expert advice about the latest technologies and materials that could be useful.
A mentor provides a conducive environment, especially if your child is not experienced and needs guidance. Based on their past experiences, a mentor can encourage your child to participate fully in the learning process as they explore new possibilities. This can improve the child’s self-esteem and build confidence.
5. Learn with your child
A great way to offer proper education in robotics is by learning with your child. No matter how busy you are, create some time every day and learn robotics concepts with your child. Your participation could be in the form of building a Lego set, pursuing an unplugged activity, or discussing their learning experiences.
Learning with your child will encourage emotional and mental engagement. This can make a big difference in the life of your child whether they want to continue with robotics or not.
Showing your willingness to learn a new skill can encourage your child to take up the challenge too. They will realize that they can create something new even if they are not experts. The child can also get an opportunity to explain something to you, and thus they will understand their abilities and gain confidence. They will also appreciate the fact that people have different abilities and strengths.
When you learn together with your child, you can make mistakes and develop creative ways of dealing with them. This can help the child recognize that making a mistake does not mean that everything is bad. Additionally, collaborative learning is a simple way of spending quality time together.
6. Promote theory
In robotics, Theoretical knowledge is just as important as practical knowledge. To teach theory, you need to encourage your child to go beyond their skillset. You can promote theory at home or enroll your child in coding and robotics camps in your area. The camps offer coding theory and practical skills that children can relate to.
Theoretical knowledge enables children to develop their skills further in a conducive environment. Your child will have the added advantage of connecting with friends with similar aspirations and getting a sense of independence. These are important beyond robotics classes because they can support the child in their career development and growth.
Gaining knowledge in robotics can lead your child to the talents and interests they need in the job market. Introduce the child to the theoretical knowledge of robotics and understand its significance in the STEM field. Let them also understand that jobs in the STEM field are in high demand, and they need proper robotics background.
Conclusion
Education in robotics is the basis of developing creative and innovative minds that can bring changes to the world. As a parent, you have a role to play to give your child proper education in robotics. Follow the above steps to see your child gain confidence and self-esteem from an early age in their learning pursuits.
Author Bio:
Leon Collier is a writer and blogger from the UK. He blogs on history, travel, self-development, career development, and education. When not busy writing, you can find him behind a book or enjoying tabletop games with his friends. Follow him on Twitter @LeonCollier12.
