I'm after ideas for a birthday gift for my 10 year old son. He has an interest in technology, I've tried to teach him a little programing of late, and he is kind of interested. Anyway open to any ideas, not just tech ones.
This is what I am going to buy my 4-yr old son when he turns 5. The look of wonder in his eyes, the thoughts that must be buzzing in his head when I explain things he cannot see. Buy him a microscope.
But also get him something he can socialize with - like a rugby ball or cricket bat, whatever for whatever sport you play in your area.
Get him an awesome mountain bike or a BB gun to terrorize the neighborhood cats. He's got about 4 years left before life starts to get real serious, so let him be a kid. No one wants to spend all day sitting in front of a monitor, especially a 10 year old.
EDIT: Apparently it needs to be stated clearly that despite my tongue in cheek comment, I don't actually condone the firing of projectiles at small feline animals, be they feral or domestic. It should also be noted that I do not condone the "arming" of minors with the intent of allowing them to commit acts of violence on animals, other persons, or even plants for that matter. From here on out, if asked for gift ideas for a child, I'll simply ask a child what they prefer and relay their answer, unless of course they suggest an item not on an "approved" list.
Why can't you be a kid whilst still enjoying technology?
You make out as if the gifts outlined here (e.g. Arduino, Lego Technic, etc) are going to strip him of his childhood. I'd argue they'd improve creativity and give a sense of accomplishment ("hey, I made that!!").
No need to buy children toys which represent killing devices, and definitely no teaching children to get off on "terrorist" sadism on weaker people/animals. In a more civilized society, that would be more commonly considered child abuse, not to mention the costs others will be more likely to bear from the grown child's actions.
As they say, this is why we can't have nice things...
"Cowboys and Indians" is a great example. For one thing, they're not from India, as incompetently believed; they were the US's indigenous population, largely exterminated through genocide.
(For that matter, the cowboy imagery we pose as was stolen from Mexicans, just like the land we call "Texas".)
Dissidents like Chomsky mentioned, "I clearly remember when I was a child the favorite game for young people was 'Cowboys and Indians.' You went to the forest and pretended that there were 'Indians.' It was like going hunting, like hunting animals." Now, who spends almost as much as the rest of the world combined on military, frequently indulges in international attacks against far weaker people, and jails its own population at the world's highest rate?
Who cares about the mountain bike? If I said, "I just got junior a bike and sexual predator kit!" you probably wouldn't even remember the bike, except as bizarre juxtaposition.
"incompetently believed" - By whom? I doubt the U.S. had many immigrants from India in the 1800s. Genocide is defined as the deliberate killing of a group of people. I'm sure the Europeans and early Americans had microscopes to make sure those blankets were infected before giving them to the Native Americans.
The imagery wasn't stolen. Mexico had cowboys (vaqueros) before us. Did they have a patent on what clothes to wear? Cowboys look like cowboys because of the utility of their clothes, not because of some sense of fashion. Try working on a ranch in a suit and top hat.
Did you ever study history? I recommend that rather than regurgitating other people's delusions. Texas was not stolen. The people who lived in Texas revolted and drove out the Mexican soldiers. Texas then became its own Republic. Texas later joined the United States voluntarily.
Perhaps the game of Cowboys and Indians is culturally insensitive. I don't know anyone who hates Indians because of it, or wants to go hunt them or any other humans in real life. The public school I went to did a pretty good job teach us about the plight of the Native Americans. Also, I would venture to guess that game Cowboys and Indians was introduced by the many western shows and movies that were popular in the mid-1900s. Cops and Robbers was immensely more popular even before Cowboys and Indians [0].
The rest of your post is just ridiculous and I have no idea why you brought those things up. What does a "sexual predator kit" have to do with anything?
I completely agree with encouraging him to be a kid and keep him away from a monitor as long as possible, but to suggest equipping a kid with a BB gun to terrorise the neighbourhood cats is appalling. You may or may not like them, but they're living things and they feel pain and fear just as much as humans do, and they have just as much right to go about their lives without being shot at.
There may have been some tongue in cheek exaggeration in the parent comment. Go out and be wild, at any rate.
Fuel & electric motors and electronic kits make good hands-on toys at that age as well, to see things working. Bikes, guns, and other implements of destruction are cool too (one can stay within the bounds of wrecking things that were due for it anyway)
Another cat apologist. They shit in my garden, kill all the local wildlife, piss everywhere, try and break into your house, scratch your kids up, lick their worm-ridden arses and only show intelligence with respect to jealousy and self interest.
Hah! +1 for the edit. Still approve of BB Guns for kids. Teach them to be responsible with dangerous things. Can you imagine giving an iPhone or Laptop to a kid you wouldn't trust with a BB Gun!?
Can you imagine giving an iPhone or Laptop to a kid you wouldn't trust with a BB Gun
Easily. I have no problem letting my 3 year old play with an iPad, yet there is no way I'd hand her a loaded BB Gun. The worst a irresponsible kid with a laptop can to is try to throw it at someone. An irresponsible kid with a BB Gun can easily cause serious damage to his surroundings.
Kids don't get outdoors enough these days.
I approve of the bb gun. When I was 10 the one thing I really looked forward to was archery class.
Marksmanship is all about developing skill with practice. You can have plenty of fun with a bb/pellet gun/bow&arrow that doesn't involve killing/wounding critters. Just make sure the kid acquires a healthy respect for any weapon and understands it is a responsibility. That may be difficult given the way people wave guns around on TV and in the movies, but responsibility is the most important aspect.
Dear HN Community: I really could not understand what is bad in this suggestion of mine. Just because I put my startup as a suggestion does not make it bad.
Who would not love to cherish old memories with parents? And the author is also open to all ideas not just the tech ones.
No it is not, I have to admit it, because my signature is the worst that could ever be, but I think that is related to the fact that my calligraphy is horrible. So, wouldn't it be funny if someone has a crappy calligraphy and a great signature? are you even sure that it's possible? not saying that you didn't your research or anything, just throwing questions. Still, point being, when I was 10 having as a present a designer signature would have disappointed me greatly.
I agree with your concerns about calligraphy and all. But with practice I am pretty sure you also can have a nice signature.
"I was 10 having as a present a designer signature would have disappointed me greatly."
- with all due respect, it is subjective.
PS: Right now I am really disappointed that my comments are getting negative ratings. Sorry if I have offended the HN community but shameless marketing was never my intention.
Why not both? It is true that maybe 10 years it's a bit early for serious coding, but I don't see anything wrong with it, when my time came, I was like 16 and I always practised sport(still do) had time to code and for friends.
It's true and but I think both things can have a negative side, one it can be, coding seen as a homework, something the kid do every day, exercises, plus, the school I think they will not be motivated at all. The second is the kid loves coding, being at home in the computer and avoid sports. I think you can try to incentive both, but one will eventually take out the other.
Also, I think sports in general are more important in that age than anything else. A healthy body when is growing could be a life changing later, you can train yourself into coding at any age and eventually, master it, but a good body could give you access to other professions that require a fit body. I couldn't apply for air force because of my bad fit, as an example and I think the kid, at his age, still doesn't know what to do, better to teach him something cool as coding when he's about to exit is growing period and know more or less what he wants to do for a living (17-18).
If you want to get him something technology related, think about a Mindstorm NXT kit. I know that's what I wanted at his age (And my parents never got it for me grrr). There are plenty of other ways to encourage your kid to "go outside" and "act a kid" so if he WANTS something tech relate for his birthday, get him what he wants. Now, if he's more interested in a mountain bike or a football, get him that. (If you haven't yet, you should ask him what he wants. At that age they're usually still honest about it.) I also think the suggestion another commenter gave about a rasberry pi is a good one. At his age, he'll probably really enjoy something that is hands on and he can build with.
A lot of boys that age like Minecraft and other videogames on xbox or pc. You might get him a small android tablet or else an old smart phone or laptop to play games. A bike or scooter.
When you've explored the 'standard' makey makey options you can convert it into an arduino board, opening up a whole new world of sensors, electronics and programming. In my opinion, the makey makey is a great way to get into electronics/programming because it's more accessible than just an arduino or a raspberry pi. You can do stuff with it out of the box and there are cool projects for children to do together.
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When I was about that age I got an intro to electronics kit, I absolutely loved it. Just making little LEDs light up, speakers buzz, nothing that complex just things I could understand, think through, and make work myself.
Get him something that just the two of you can do together, ideally outside or in the wild. It doesn't really matter what it is, just so long as it's something you do together. He's at an age now where he worships the ground you walk on, which won't last much longer. Make the most of it whilst it lasts, and give him some great memories at the same time. That's going to be worth way more to him than $TOY or $GADGET.
[brainstorm]
The Dangerous Book for Boys
Snip, Solder and Burn
Basic robotics stuff, something related to Arduino?
They're cheap enough.
Introduce him to Scratch or some other development tutoring environment for kids.
Subscription to Wizard 101 :)
A trick bike?
Nerf is a nice alternative to BB. You don't get to shoot cats with it though.
Build a water rocket. Did that with my boy. He was suitably impressed.
Look, you don't have to leave off with a gift. The stuff you do together leaves the best memories. Stuff passes away. Good memories, especially after 10 years of age, tend to stick.
At his age, I would love to have a proper RC plane/boat/car. You can get a starter kit for quite cheap from HobbyKing and can provide an introduction in a world of technology, electronics, physics, etc. Also, a lot of fun :)
www.play-i.com would have been perfect. They just don't have it yet.
edit: From play-i => Using a tablet or other mobile device running compatible software, the child will be able to program his or her robot to perform certain actions. The bots are expected to cost under $100
A book idea : "A Little History of the World" by Ernst Gombrich, the author of "The Story of Art". The book is aimed at children ("für junge Leser" in original title) but not too much and may let him discover new topic of interest (History in general or a specific period/civilisation).
58 comments
[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 110 ms ] threadhttp://www.amazon.com/SmartLab-Toys-ReCon-Programmable-Rover...
Seemed interesting to me.
But also get him something he can socialize with - like a rugby ball or cricket bat, whatever for whatever sport you play in your area.
EDIT: Apparently it needs to be stated clearly that despite my tongue in cheek comment, I don't actually condone the firing of projectiles at small feline animals, be they feral or domestic. It should also be noted that I do not condone the "arming" of minors with the intent of allowing them to commit acts of violence on animals, other persons, or even plants for that matter. From here on out, if asked for gift ideas for a child, I'll simply ask a child what they prefer and relay their answer, unless of course they suggest an item not on an "approved" list.
You make out as if the gifts outlined here (e.g. Arduino, Lego Technic, etc) are going to strip him of his childhood. I'd argue they'd improve creativity and give a sense of accomplishment ("hey, I made that!!").
As they say, this is why we can't have nice things...
EDIT: And yes, encouraging kids to shoot at peoples cats is a terrible idea. In all likelihood those cats are a part of some other kids life.
Today, instead of running around outside getting exercise and learning social interaction, they're all in their rooms on the Internet or game console.
I think an awesome mountain bike or a BB gun is exactly what kids need nowadays.
(For that matter, the cowboy imagery we pose as was stolen from Mexicans, just like the land we call "Texas".)
Dissidents like Chomsky mentioned, "I clearly remember when I was a child the favorite game for young people was 'Cowboys and Indians.' You went to the forest and pretended that there were 'Indians.' It was like going hunting, like hunting animals." Now, who spends almost as much as the rest of the world combined on military, frequently indulges in international attacks against far weaker people, and jails its own population at the world's highest rate?
Should we also go back to teaching the popular racist version of "Eeny meeny"? "Catch a n... by his toe / If he won't work then let him go." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeny,_meeny,_miny,_moe#Earlier_...)
Who cares about the mountain bike? If I said, "I just got junior a bike and sexual predator kit!" you probably wouldn't even remember the bike, except as bizarre juxtaposition.
The imagery wasn't stolen. Mexico had cowboys (vaqueros) before us. Did they have a patent on what clothes to wear? Cowboys look like cowboys because of the utility of their clothes, not because of some sense of fashion. Try working on a ranch in a suit and top hat.
Did you ever study history? I recommend that rather than regurgitating other people's delusions. Texas was not stolen. The people who lived in Texas revolted and drove out the Mexican soldiers. Texas then became its own Republic. Texas later joined the United States voluntarily.
Perhaps the game of Cowboys and Indians is culturally insensitive. I don't know anyone who hates Indians because of it, or wants to go hunt them or any other humans in real life. The public school I went to did a pretty good job teach us about the plight of the Native Americans. Also, I would venture to guess that game Cowboys and Indians was introduced by the many western shows and movies that were popular in the mid-1900s. Cops and Robbers was immensely more popular even before Cowboys and Indians [0].
The rest of your post is just ridiculous and I have no idea why you brought those things up. What does a "sexual predator kit" have to do with anything?
[0] http://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=cowboys+and+ind...
Fuel & electric motors and electronic kits make good hands-on toys at that age as well, to see things working. Bikes, guns, and other implements of destruction are cool too (one can stay within the bounds of wrecking things that were due for it anyway)
Fuck 'em all.
Kid with a BB gun is a natural predator.
Easily. I have no problem letting my 3 year old play with an iPad, yet there is no way I'd hand her a loaded BB Gun. The worst a irresponsible kid with a laptop can to is try to throw it at someone. An irresponsible kid with a BB Gun can easily cause serious damage to his surroundings.
It's one of the best gifts you can ever give it to your child.
Disclaimer: I am the product manager and part owner.
Who would not love to cherish old memories with parents? And the author is also open to all ideas not just the tech ones.
Just because I put up a disclaimer, you knew we are part of this else how would you have known?
If I wouldn't have put the disclaimer then it would have been the shameless plug.
May be it is little early but you can give this a thought.
Gift him a Designer Signature from http://www.signinstyle.com
So that he can start doing it from now before the current signature (if he has any) becomes official at too many places.
Disclaimer: I am the co-founder of Sign in Style.
"I was 10 having as a present a designer signature would have disappointed me greatly."
- with all due respect, it is subjective.
PS: Right now I am really disappointed that my comments are getting negative ratings. Sorry if I have offended the HN community but shameless marketing was never my intention.
Also, I think sports in general are more important in that age than anything else. A healthy body when is growing could be a life changing later, you can train yourself into coding at any age and eventually, master it, but a good body could give you access to other professions that require a fit body. I couldn't apply for air force because of my bad fit, as an example and I think the kid, at his age, still doesn't know what to do, better to teach him something cool as coding when he's about to exit is growing period and know more or less what he wants to do for a living (17-18).
Edit: Seems it's called 'Lego Technic'. I just remember calling it technical lego as a kid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Technic
Maybe ask him what he wants
A lot of boys that age like Minecraft and other videogames on xbox or pc. You might get him a small android tablet or else an old smart phone or laptop to play games. A bike or scooter.
http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Redstone_circuit
When you've explored the 'standard' makey makey options you can convert it into an arduino board, opening up a whole new world of sensors, electronics and programming. In my opinion, the makey makey is a great way to get into electronics/programming because it's more accessible than just an arduino or a raspberry pi. You can do stuff with it out of the box and there are cool projects for children to do together.
Google translated the Dutch for me!
"159.253.0.110
Note to the owner of the following domain : This domain is not linked to your web hosting package, reseller hosting package or virtual server. You have in your customer panel DNS management enabled for this domain name. Change the DNS records for the IP addresses of your DNS server or move management, and change the name servers to the name servers of your hosting package, reseller hosting package or virtual server."
http://googlecreativelab.github.io/coder/
Look, you don't have to leave off with a gift. The stuff you do together leaves the best memories. Stuff passes away. Good memories, especially after 10 years of age, tend to stick.
http://www.korg.com/monotribe
Relatively cheap and can lead into an interesting hobby (plus you can take them to bits and modify them!)
http://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Softwa...
edit: From play-i => Using a tablet or other mobile device running compatible software, the child will be able to program his or her robot to perform certain actions. The bots are expected to cost under $100
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Little_History_of_the_World