Bridging the STEM Education Gap Through Toys
Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning. — Mr. Rogers
Start Up Circuits
GAP: Lack of early childhood toys that develop basic electrical concept of “circuit is a circle”
Start Up Circuits was designed to engage toddlers in the “switch phase” of their development. It provides that non-verbal experience time that can be leveraged by formal instruction in the future. The goals was to make a clear design so children could see the actual wires and how switches opened and closed the connection.
Awards:
Tillywig Brain Child Award
Code Hopper
GAP: Ways to develop algorithmic thinking in general while encouraging active play and keeping screen time low
Code Hopper was designed with a fidgety pre-schooler on a rainy day using years of experience teaching basic programming skills. These were only the beginning. The goal was to expand to include tokens (variables), dice (random numbers), and conditionals and iteratives related to numeric values.
STORY BEHIND THE TOY EXTENSIONS
Awards:
Creative Child Magazine Top Toy of the Year Award
PAL Award
Teacher’s Choice Award