If there is one toy that is fundamental to a child's early development, it would be the building block. LightUp has found a perfect way to help direct that type of play into a love for technical learning with their building kits.
LightUp makes products to help kids learn science and engineering. And one of their main goals is to teach them that learning from their mistakes is just as crucial as the content itself and that is what is really at the core of being a scientist. They offer kits of circuit blocks that teach kids how to build circuits and also to program.
The blocks click together magnetically with each one designed for a specific purpose. There are a battery block and other pieces that enable kids to build things like an alarm, thermometer, and even a music box.
Through trial and error, the kids are able to try different configurations and learn how to make current flow and also how voltage works. There is also an app that uses the camera on your tablet to tutor them through the process. So rather than just giving them the pieces and a step-by-step list of instructions, the kids actually learn the science behind it through experimentation.
Future kits are in development that will provide more projects and games and include magnetism and physics in the mix. Sign up for their mailing list to find out when new kits become available.
The Edison Kit is available for $48.95 and the Tesla Kit is available for $85.34.
Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad for the Tech Podcast Network.
Daniele is a student at Florida Polytechnic University who is studying Computer Science with a concentration in Cyber Security. In High School, she was introduced to the science and technology world through the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), a robotics foundation where students of varying ages can compete through tasks that their robots perform. With help from mentors she met through FIRST, she became interested in programming and developing. Today, Daniele is a special events host for F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and PLuGHiTz Live Special Events and a co-host for both The New Product Launchpad and FIRST Looks.
