(Photo uploaded to Flickr by HVargas)
When planning activities for the younger children, I endeavour to have a variety of activities and some which are construction based. This usually takes form in the Useful Box and we also have a set of smaller real tools that the children can use to practice hammering etc.
It wasn’t until I came across this Reuters article titled “Kids should work with hands for brains’ sake” that I realised, I really don’t have any like activities for the older two children. They will create occasionally with this stuff, but I think have reached a point where they find it a bit babyish.
I think because on the whole they occupy themselves quite well with various activities, I haven’t sought an age appropriate replacement for this activity. But I am thinking now that I should seek out more challenging alternatives for the two older boys that involve working with their hands:
“Working with one’s own hands in a real-world 3-D environment is imperative for full cognitive and intellectual development,”
This statement was from Dr. Aric Sigman, the author of a report commissioned by the Ruskin Mill Educational Trust. It was a UK based report, but I imagine the findings would not be too different in Australia and that we too have become a:
“software instead of a screwdriver society”
Now I am not anti computer by any means, (I certainly spend enough time on one my self 
). But I think, like all things, moderation and variety is needed. As such we do have strict limitations on the amount of time that the children can use the computer. The spend a lot of time playing football, chess, reading, Lego and playing board games.
Out of these activities only Lego is really hands on based work. So I have a had quick search around and come across some sites which have some great activities that the children could try:
Web Weather For Kids – Science Activities
Zoom Sci – Engineering Design It
Construction Challenge Activity
I have mentioned before that I would like Mr Infrastructre to put together a fort/climbing frame arrangement in the backyard. I now have ideas growing about a group project for Mr I and the children (he just doesn’t know about it yet!).
How do you get your older children into hands on activities?
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PQ,
I have found Dick Smith Eletronics shops have a terrific variety of both generic and other brands of motorised wooden kits; allowing the kids to build up a gearbox, and from there learn how motors and automotive transmissions work! They are priced very reasonably (b’w $7 – $25-) depending on what you buy. We have recently purchased a mechanical tyrannosaurus which is a wooden kit, and then motor needs to be built, and attached. As you know my boys are 7, 5 & 1/2 and 4 and these are probably aimed more at the two older ones – but never to early hey!
HT
Thanks for the tip HT, I will definitely check them out.
PlanningQueens last blog post..Getting Hands On
Oh I remember as a kid playing with this simple electronics kit – it gave you instructions to connect this wire to this battery to this switch to this motor to make x happen… very cool!
A much simplier version of this, cheaper and more ‘beginners’ (so maybe not for your older kids) is to give them a set of small screw drivers and an old computer or electrical appliance and let them take it apart… old clocks (you know the ones that actually have hands and a wind up mechanism) are really cool inside if you can get them….
katefs last blog post..Flickr Friday – Winter.