We have to Scratch every day and we don't even have lice. We have the technology bug thanks to a great free program called Scratch. MIT has stepped up and designed a computer programing site that is available and free to all children. It is designed so that kids can work independently through trial and error. When my daughter gets completely stuck she can search tips and tutorials on her own and solve her own problems. Scratch is unique in that even the youngest users can find, fix and report glitches themselves. She never asks me to jump in and save her. Honestly, I probably couldn't anyway. All of the toys we have discovered that rely on technology seem to reward button pushers and not creators. This is the first time we have found anything in the realm of technology that is as open ended and limitless as blocks.
Educational tasks for children using Scratch:
Hide spelling words in scenes.
Create an animated card for a fictional character, historical figure or current politician.
Draw historical figures, animate and add famous quotes.
Create a commercial geared towards a time or event in history.
Sketch out the water cycle, anatomy or even plant cells and animate in a skit.
Let them be free! Parents should resist the urge to be a fun sucker and
trust that children will find more educational and amazing things to do with Scratch than
anyone could ever imagine.
