Rokenbok
Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
121–130 of 144 posts
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#122My kids loved this 'learn binary' toy: https://www.quercettistore.com/en/toys/educational/1014-rami Site is in Italian but I ordered it off Amazon, the box is in Italian but that wasn't a problem.
Quercetti is great. We got a lot of mileage with Tubation.
https://www.quercettistore.com/en/toys/buildings/4175-tubati...
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#123a) figure out how to make the "messy and dangerous" doable. b) I had some success by playing boardgames (even Carcasone) at this age, with some rules-simplifications c) sometimes we played games on my phone, Monument Valley, I love Hue, Chuchel ... d) Buying and launching a model rocket was a success, if he'd enjoy watching from the distance and then trying to find the rocket again :-) e) in simmilar fashion, buildin…
+1 Monument Valley. Also Love You to Bits, and (now defunct) Tiny Thief. We are playing Gris now.
For board/traditional games, we like Robot Turtles (easier version of Robo Rally, which you can upgrade to when they are older), Yahtzee, Backgammon, Stun. Yeah, for over 3, but the younger ones like to watch.
And no one mentioned Snap Circuits Jr.!
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#124Our kids liked the Robot Turtles board game. The kids are the programmers, playing cards to give instructions. The parent is the computer, executing the instructions (while making silly sound effects).
My kids loved that one. I was sad when they outgrew it.
Have you checked out Robo Rally? Similar but more advanced play, so for older players.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#125Everyone else is suggesting things to purchase, so I'll suggest things you can find or do outside. The last few are from [1], which I came across a while ago. - Play "identify the waterfowl in the park" followed by "chase!" and (for larger geese and swans) "run away!". [This should satisfy the other comment "play sports instead".] - Then, collect sticks in the woods and build a shelter. Extra points for using differe…
In addition to going outside, my dad giving me all sorts of broken things and telling me to take them apart taught me so much. Keyboards, old computers, toys, etc. It may be harder now, but I recall opening up broken toys and you could visibly see or smell out a blown cap. Opening things shows that things aren't magic.
I second this. Although I think maybe 4 or 5 may be a more apt age, my father gave me his old curtis screwdriver set, and let me take apart various electronics they were phasing out at work. Your local recycling center may also provide some good scrap to work with. I know it's less and less common nowadays, but you should try to give him older electronics, as they have larger components, and more obvious traces to follow with a finger. I'd assume there are still plenty of people throwing out old handsets and dvrs at your local recycling center.
Also here is possibly the most influential gift my father ever got for me: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002LUAL6?tag=duckduckgo-d-20&lin...
Our hardware store carried them, and it comes with solder and an iron. After learning how to solder, I taught myself how to scrap old motherboards, and amassed a sizeable collection of used components which I still reuse now. We weren't too component about this thing when I was little, but you should probably also get him some gloves and a hepa filter hood so he dosen't burn himself or inhale anything bad.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#126Shrug my head. Be a responsible parent and let your kid enjoy their childhood. Play sports with him instead
You know they aren't mutually exclusive, right?
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#127Taking care of plants. The first thing my niece (3) and nephew (5) do when they get in the house is check what plants need to be watered by sticking their hands in the potting soil. The plants and taking care of them has achieved peak interest for a few months. Two caveats, 1) they do not live with the plants 2) It is a ploy to get the water spraying can out. They also equate it with working somewhat as a few rules h…
Yes! When I was little my mom had my brother and I grow carrots in pots. Later we graduated to zucchini, tomatoes, and strawberries, but the carrots were just in a small pot.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#128Three is really young to even think STEM. That does not mean you can’t go there, but one-on-one involvement on your part is absolutely essential.
When my kids were that age, frankly, it was more about mommy than me.
Still, we built an awesome wooden train table (Thomas trains, tracks, etc.). I also gave them an old IBM keyboard, the kind with the keys that click. They loved sitting on the floor next to me while I was on the computer.
I also got them involved with any project I did in the shop (so long as it wasn’t dangerous). For example, I’d have them help build model airplanes (hand me tools, parts, hold things, etc.).
I also took them to the flying field and had them fly with me using a “buddy box” (two transmitters linked for teacher-student control of the same plane).
And fishing, even if it is using a lure without real hooks that looks like a little fish (after I clipped off the hooks). Definitely fishing, nothing compares to quality time fishing on a kayak on the lake.
The common thread is 100% personal involvement. That’s the only way it works, even if all you have are cardboard boxes (which should not be underestimated, BTW).
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#129Everyone else is suggesting things to purchase, so I'll suggest things you can find or do outside. The last few are from [1], which I came across a while ago. - Play "identify the waterfowl in the park" followed by "chase!" and (for larger geese and swans) "run away!". [This should satisfy the other comment "play sports instead".] - Then, collect sticks in the woods and build a shelter. Extra points for using differe…
Best yet! Fuck all this consume, buy, waste...
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#130Clay modeling