You can’t build a cancer simulator in high school if you’ve not comfortable with a computer keyboard. That’s always been Domingo and my philosophy when it comes to technology. Technology is a tool that you need practice with in order to master. But up until recently, I haven’t really been putting my money where my mouth is.

A few weeks ago Nicole asked us if we had a 3D printer. They had a guest visit to their kindergarten class who gave a presentation on animal conservation. He recounted the story of helping a bald eagle with a broken beak by 3D printing a new one. If it was possible to print beaks, she thought, maybe we could also print toys.

My little maker in the making.

We spent the weekend designing “Nicole Coins” since she’s been really into counting lately. She wanted to print a 100, but at $5 a pop we decided to go with 4.

She’s not the only one making connections when it comes to technology. Alexis figured out before I did that my new camera’s LCD screen is a touch screen. In fact, I had no idea until I saw her scrolling through the photos with a finger swipe. I use my camera nearly daily. She has never once taken a picture, and only looked at the images a handful of times. Yet she had thought to try something I hadn’t, and as a result figured out functionality I never knew existed.

I love that they’re becoming familiar with how these things work enough to make connections and inferences.

Despite our philosophy the kids’ exposure our kids have had to technology, and not just screen time, has been somewhat unintentionally limited. We occasionally use my phone to experiment with face masks and augmented reality, and had a weekly skype date with my parents. We have echos scattered about the house to play music and work as an intercom system. That’s been the extent of it.

This weekend Domingo and I got the kids each their own tablets. We preloaded them with logic games and site word lists, as well as a few episodes of their favorite TV shows. Part of me thinks we must be crazy, but I’ve heard through the grapevine that some local elementary schools have the kids do homework on ipads. I want the girls to be familiar with the tool when the time comes!

Posted in Internet & Technology