Electro Dough - Introducing Electronics to Kids

Nesta is a charity that backs innovative projects and has recently launched a campaign "Make Things Do Stuff" which aims to encourage young people aged between 9 and 18 to become creators of digital technologies and invent their own ways of doing things so they become tomorrow's creators and not just passive consumers.

The website – www.makethingsdostuff.co.uk – includes free step-by-step tutorials on how to code & create, as well as info about clubs that kids can join and events to go to. They  also have a number of like-minded partners who are working together to reach their target of getting 100,000 kids creating this summer, providing the tools and support needed to make and share things.

As part of the Make Things Do Stuff campaign, we were sent the Electro Dough kit from Technology Will Save Us. It does not include any dough, but the kit shows you how to make conductive dough – containing lemon juice rather than sugar – and allows you to create your own responsive & interactive sculptures using LEDs, batteries & dough.  You can also use non-conductive dough as well to make more elaborate sculptures without ruining the circuits.

The kit contains all the electronic components to encourage kids to get creative with technology.  Gadget mad dad Ian was really excited to see the set and said that he wished they had had toys like this when he was a kid!  He volunteered to help 10 year old Kizzy get to grips with electronics and create her own light up model.

A fold out poster gives information on the components, circuitry and electronics but the actual instructions are a bit vague and without Ian's knowledge I think we would have struggled to make anything connect up and work, but it encourages exploration and experimentation.  To be honest, I felt a bit intimidated looking at the components and wires, but 10 year olds have no fear of technology and with a set like this, they can open up their minds and use their imaginations to get creative and construct an electronic sculpture of their own design.  Nurturing an interest in science and technology at a young age will pave the way for youngster's to become tomorrow's creators.

We discovered that Playdoh is actually conductive so we could use that instead of making dough. Kizzy used cutters to make shapes and linked them up to make light up sculptures with squishy circuitry!

Trying out the circuits

A light up face

Simple sausage design

Flowers

It was interesting to experiment with circuits and find out what will and won't work.  It introduces electronics to youngsters in a fun way and incorporates an element of creativity.  I'm sure that more elaborate models will follow now Kizzy understands the rudiments of electronic circuitry. The set requires 4 AA batteries which aren't included.

It costs £13.50 for the kit, a great buy for kids interested in science and technology - find out more at http://technologywillsaveus.org/resources/electro-dough/.

Technology, Connections and The Home.

These days, it’s safe to say technology and the home overlap very easily. It doesn't matter who you are, you probably get some use out of technology. The humble telephone, for instance, still holds many uses. Likewise, TV and the internet is always in use. As a parent, you might use this a little, but children eagerly embrace and adapt such new technology.

As such, what might be of little use to you is something that your children will grow up around, taking it on as part of day to day life. In other words, you may have to provide something that you yourself do not use, or even understand the importance of.

The phone

Take the house phone, for instance. Whilst you may use it for occasional calls, someone else might be a frequent talker. Home phones offer a cheap way to make long distance calls, especially when compared to the costs of dialling out on a mobile phone. Even if it’s not in use, you still need a landline connection for the internet.

As such, you want a provider such as BT phone that offers you what you need. This can include international calls or a cheaper rate for domestic calls. Whatever you need, finding the deal that suits you directly saves you money and hassle.

The internet

As already stated, a phone line is needed if you wish to access the internet. This is where an arguable difference between generations can be seen. Adults and parents might use the internet, but this is nowhere near as much as a child may grow up to use it. Once they reach school age, the internet becomes an important tool for research. Additionally, online gaming and other services ensure that a child always has a ready use for the internet.

Likewise, other devices, such as phones and tablets, use the internet too. In short, even if you don't use it, your children place a great reliance on your broadband connection. As such, this is something you might want to invest in. It’s also something you will need to adapt; as it gets used more, you may need to switch to a better deal that copes with the traffic. With so much relying on it, it helps to have a connection that can both cope with demand and save you money.

In closing, this is just a quick look at two key areas of technology. Throw in the likes of electricity usage, TV and other areas, and you have an example of just how important technology is in the modern home and family life.