Episode 5: Raising Geeky Kids
This week we talk about raising kids in this modern, digital age, and some ideas about how to lead them to be interested in science and technology. We reflect a bit on our own childhoods (Legos and video games) and our new guest, Greg, a dad of two and fellow thoughtful geek, offers his insights and experiences to our discussion.
Below are some of the issues we tried to address. One hour is barely enough time to cover this, and we hope to lend more time on this topic in the future, perhaps as a follow-on to this week's episode.
(1) Children today grow up with more technology around them than ever before. For example, by the time today's preschoolers are in high school, it's likely that cell phones will be powerful handheld computers. Does this mean that children today are more oriented towards engineering and science (as subjects of interest or as careers), or will these children simply be end-users and consumers of these technologies? Why has enrollment in computer science programs decreased so much over the last decade or so, and will it rebound?
Here's a Link to a Washington Post Article about Bill Gates addressing Congress about the lack of skilled tech workers (because of the Visa program and fewer students coming out of college in science fields.
(2) There's a TED talk about dangerous things children should be allowed to do (e.g. play with fire, own a knife, take things apart). There are also popular books about dangerous activities for children. Have we made things too safe for children? For example, kids' chemistry sets no longer contain any dangerous chemicals, but those chemicals made many interesting and educational reactions possible. What will happen when kids who have never had to face danger or harm (whether from bullies, running on the playground, or whatever) grow up? Are we making indecisive and weak kids? (If so, what can we do about it?) Some links:
The book: "The Dangerous Book For Boys"
Photos from Tulley's "Tinkering School" Program
Instructables, a website for 'show and tell' for DIY projects
(3) Our culture is sensual, sensational, secular, relativistic, and popular. We're more oriented to sound bites and entertainment than to deep and meaningful discussion. What are some practical steps parents can take to moving their children towards a life of meaning, virtue, and flourishing, intellectual and otherwise? How are churches helping and hindering this? What about the educational system?
Enjoy listening to our podcast! Feel free to chime in with your comments and suggestions, or even provide links to some good links related to our topic.
Played: 698 | Download | Duration: 00:58:51
Good discussion guys! Loved the discussion on imaginary play and building things out of cardboard. Have many a fond memory of cardboard forts, pillow forts, blanket forts, Lego castles, Constructs versions of Airwolf, etc. I also had collections of rocks which were classified as to when they were acquired and what type of rock they were. We were taken to museums, National Parks, and theater performances. We went camping and did scouting. But one of the best things my parents did was expose us to how things worked. Whenever there was something to be repaired, we helped from how to patch a hole in drywall, to flat pack furniture assembly, to cooking, to constructing flower boxes. When a piece of hardware died, we got to play with it. We also learned how to research questions ourselves in the encyclopedia or one of the numerous books around the house. When these failed us, we went to the library for more information just like they said to do at the end of Voyagers!
But were is the verion of Mr. Wizard, or 3, 2, 1, Contact for kids today? I still reference knowledge learned on these shows as an adult.
Keep up the good work!
Ah yes - definitely a podcast by geeks! Bill differentiates between "geeky things" and "philosophy". Is there really a difference? Chris says that philosophy doesn't need to involve massively long words, but as an average, 15 year old girl commented, "Philosophy itself is a massively long word."
I suppose that as a public school teacher who sees an enormous lack of creativity in her students on a daily basis, I should make some observant, well-thought-out comments. However, I find it much more entertaining to mock my favorite NERDS!!
Maybe today's geeky kids are tomorrow's Einstein.