What is Engineering for Kids? With Details

The PicoBricks R&D team consists of numerous engineers. Recognizing that individuals are using the internet to find information about engineering for kids, I organized a meeting with our R&D team to address this inquiry and create this article for your benefit.

Even though engineering encompasses various disciplines, it is primarily the practice and occupation of utilizing scientific and mathematical principles to resolve real-world issues. This domain entails converting knowledge into technology and practical designs. Engineers assess diverse predicaments, pinpoint requirements, and subsequently devise and construct machinery, buildings, systems, or methods to fulfill these requirements.

 I know this might sound complicated. Therefore, engaging in Engineering activities at an early age can be beneficial to understand whether children have an interest in this field.

While writing this, our STEM education expert interrupts me: "It might be better to guide your child with the help of a pedagogue."

Now let's answer our main question:

What is Engineering for Kids?

Engineering for kids involves understanding and using science and math in a practical way to solve problems and create new things. It's about thinking like an inventor to design, build, and test gadgets, buildings, software, and all kinds of structures.

It allows children to ask themselves questions like:

1. What problem do I want to solve?
2. How can I make this better?

Our R&D team's electrical engineer, Suat, loves to share this memory from his childhood:

"When I was a child, there were days when it suddenly rained. My toys left in the garden would get very wet, and I would wait for days for them to dry.

One day, an idea suddenly struck me. I had a truck toy. When you pressed the button next to this truck, its bed would open, and it would close when you pressed it again.

I immediately dismantled my truck. -My family was very angry at first. It was an expensive toy.- I integrated the open-close system I took from my truck into the lid of the box where I stored my toys. This way, I had a toy box that opened with the press of a button. I loved using it so much that from that day on, I always started to collect and put my toys in the box after playing."

It seems it was clear from those days that Suat would become an engineer. He asked himself the two questions mentioned above and managed to find an interesting solution.

If you are considering introducing engineering education to your child, it is important to observe well whether your child is like this.

Why is Engineering Important for Kids?

Engineers are the people who design and develop all the tools we use today.

From primitive humans who invented the wheel to those who design your toaster today, all are very important engineers.

It's crucial for our civilization that these individuals have a healthy childhood and are directed to areas of interest at an early age.

For example, if Suat from our R&D team didn't exist, we couldn't develop PicoBricks and reach dozens of curious children.

Or if the person who invented the flush toilet didn't exist, we would have had a lot of difficulties.

We are thankful they exist...

If one of these bright minds happens to be your son or daughter, it would not be good for them or our civilization to miss recognizing this exceptional talent and engage in different professions.

Perhaps your son or daughter will be the one to invent a machine that solves the global climate crisis...

Who knows...

Now let's move on to another important question:

How to Get Engineering Knowledge as a Child?

There are many ways for children to develop their engineering skills. Here are some of them:

• Engineering Kits
• STEM Toys
• Traditional Toys
• Allowing Children to Make Mistakes
• Studying Interesting Engineering Structures

Children are very curious. They examine everything they see to fill their empty minds and chart their own course in later years.

During this period, there are some pedagogical things you need to do to divert their interest towards engineering.

Allowing them to make mistakes enables them to seek fearless solutions when they encounter problems.

Traditional toys, such as a puzzle or a LEGO toy, allow you to build an endless number of different structures. These toys, which include complex problems, also develop your son's or daughter's problem-solving skills. Especially in engineering education for kindergarten children, these types of traditional toys play an important role.

STEM toys and Engineering kits are very comprehensive toys. These products, covering robotics coding, puzzles, mathematics, electronic circuits, and science, allow the child to encounter problems through puzzle logic, while their robotics coding aspects introduce them to the technology of the future at an early age. Electronic circuits are among the most used components in every branch of engineering. These kits and toys are abundant in these circuits.

Let's take, for example, our IoT Kit.

It includes a Raspberry Pi Pico W which can be programmed with Python.

It also contains a DIY smart greenhouse that can be assembled and formed just like a puzzle. This allows your child to create a product just as they would in puzzles, while introducing them to smart agriculture systems at an early age.

Just like that...

You can introduce your child to engineering at an early age with these methods, under the guidance of a pedagogue, and encourage them to become the next Marie Curie or Nicola Tesla.

That's all for our article on engineering for children. I hope you enjoyed it.

FAQ

What are engineering skils for kids?

Engineering skills for kids encompass a variety of competencies that encourage problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. These skills include:

1. Problem-Solving: Teaching kids how to approach and solve complex problems by breaking them down into smaller parts.
2. Creativity: Encouraging innovative thinking and the ability to design and create new things.
3. Mathematics: Basic math skills are fundamental in engineering, helping kids to understand and apply concepts like measurement, shapes, and structures.
4. Science Knowledge: A basic understanding of scientific principles, such as physics and chemistry, aids in understanding how things work.
5. Design Skills: This involves the ability to plan, draw, and visualize projects before they are built.
6. Teamwork: Engineering often involves collaboration, so learning to work effectively in a team is crucial.
7. Communication: Clear communication of ideas and plans is essential for successful engineering projects.
8. Critical Thinking: The ability to think logically and make reasoned decisions is key in engineering.
9. Persistence: Engineering challenges often require perseverance and resilience to overcome.
10. Technology Literacy: Familiarity with basic technology and computer skills is increasingly important in modern engineering.

How do explain engineering to child?

To explain engineering to a child, describe it as the art of solving problems by designing and making things. Use simple, relatable examples like building with blocks or fixing toys, emphasizing creativity and the role of engineering in making everyday things work. Keep it fun and engaging, focusing on the aspect of creating solutions.

Can i kid become an engineer?

Yes, a child can aspire to become an engineer. With the right guidance, education, and encouragement, any child with an interest in how things work and a curiosity about solving problems can pursue a future in engineering. Encouraging them to explore science, mathematics, and technology from a young age can lay a strong foundation for a career in engineering.