What does a child learn from playing with Transformers?
miriam
Katy (11) and I have been unschooling since September so we are rather new to it and I am still de-schooling (Katy, of course figured it out real fast). Katy loves Tranformers and spends a lot of time playing with them, watching Transformers programs and toy reviews on the computer and, lately, making her own toy reviews and skits on Youtube with her video camera. I know that her interest in the toys has fueled her ability to navigate the internet for interesting sites and the reviews she's been watching and making help her understand the concept of a report or evaluation of a product. I am a doll collector so I can identify with her collecting passion, but I never played with Transformers much and never watched the program before (she's my only child). I could use a bit of a kick start to my thinking about what skills, interests, activities a passion for Transformers might lead to or extend into so that I can stretch my own mind about this passion of hers and maybe bring in some related interests that neither of us have thought about.
Sandra Dodd
Look here for other people's hobbies and obsessions, and ideas about
those:
http://sandradodd.com/focus
-=-Katy loves Tranformers and spends a lot of time playing with them,
watching Transformers programs and toy reviews on the computer-=-
Critical thinking, reading different reviews and programs, thinking
and talking about those. Learning to do research.
-=-making her own toy reviews and skits on Youtube with her video
camera.-=-
Writing, art, logic (at least).
-=- I am a doll collector so I can identify with her collecting
passion, but I never played with Transformers much and never watched
the program before (she's my only child). -=-
http://sandradodd.com/intelligences/
Howard Gardner's work involves sorting out different aspects of
intelligence. Collecting, comparisons, learning the minutest details
of things is "Nature Intelligence." It doesn't have to be trees or
birds or rocks. It can be automobiles, clothing design, or pottery.
Sorting through similarities and differences is an intelligence some
people have and some people have not-so-much.
-=-I could use a bit of a kick start to my thinking about what skills,
interests, activities a passion for Transformers might lead to or
extend into so that I can stretch my own mind about this passion of
hers and maybe bring in some related interests that neither of us have
thought about. -=-
Is she interested in the physical transformation of the toys? If so,
maybe 3-D puzzles, or even jigsaw puzzles. Maybe you could find a
jigsaw puzzle with a transformers picture.
Working a puzzle with another person is one of the greatest ways to
talk.
http://sandradodd.com/truck
If she's more interested in the stories, are there Japanese videos
or ...
I stopped there and went and talked to Marty about this. He said
"Engineering!" He asked what I had already written, and thinks I
should add for him that if you can manage to get a Japanese
transformer toy that they're way more interesting than the American
versions.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
those:
http://sandradodd.com/focus
-=-Katy loves Tranformers and spends a lot of time playing with them,
watching Transformers programs and toy reviews on the computer-=-
Critical thinking, reading different reviews and programs, thinking
and talking about those. Learning to do research.
-=-making her own toy reviews and skits on Youtube with her video
camera.-=-
Writing, art, logic (at least).
-=- I am a doll collector so I can identify with her collecting
passion, but I never played with Transformers much and never watched
the program before (she's my only child). -=-
http://sandradodd.com/intelligences/
Howard Gardner's work involves sorting out different aspects of
intelligence. Collecting, comparisons, learning the minutest details
of things is "Nature Intelligence." It doesn't have to be trees or
birds or rocks. It can be automobiles, clothing design, or pottery.
Sorting through similarities and differences is an intelligence some
people have and some people have not-so-much.
-=-I could use a bit of a kick start to my thinking about what skills,
interests, activities a passion for Transformers might lead to or
extend into so that I can stretch my own mind about this passion of
hers and maybe bring in some related interests that neither of us have
thought about. -=-
Is she interested in the physical transformation of the toys? If so,
maybe 3-D puzzles, or even jigsaw puzzles. Maybe you could find a
jigsaw puzzle with a transformers picture.
Working a puzzle with another person is one of the greatest ways to
talk.
http://sandradodd.com/truck
If she's more interested in the stories, are there Japanese videos
or ...
I stopped there and went and talked to Marty about this. He said
"Engineering!" He asked what I had already written, and thinks I
should add for him that if you can manage to get a Japanese
transformer toy that they're way more interesting than the American
versions.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pam Sorooshian
On 4/20/2010 3:42 PM, Sandra Dodd wrote:
the kid learns that his/her interests matter and are important and
worthwhile. And that the parents can be counted upon to support them.
-pam
> -=-Katy loves Tranformers and spends a lot of time playing with them,And, when the parents find lots of little ways to support that interest,
> watching Transformers programs and toy reviews on the computer-=-
the kid learns that his/her interests matter and are important and
worthwhile. And that the parents can be counted upon to support them.
-pam
Rebecca M.
> I stopped there and went and talked to Marty about this. He saidDoes Marty (or anyone else on this list) have any idea where someone could source a Japanese transformer (other than maybe eBay)?
> "Engineering!" He asked what I had already written, and thinks I
> should add for him that if you can manage to get a Japanese
> transformer toy that they're way more interesting than the American
> versions.
Thanks!
Mary Whited
~~I could use a bit of a kick start to my thinking about what skills,
interests, activities a passion for Transformers ~~
goes into each one of them. My husband gave the boys several from his own
childhood and they are really amazing...made mostly of metal. The newer ones
are mostly plastic. All of them are intriguing!
Seriously, try to transform one of them. Look at how all the little
intricate pieces MUST fit together in one specific way to make it work. Look
at how the designer had to make a head (for example) just generic enough
that once transformed it could look like a headlight, or grill ornament.
Transformer play around here has always led to this type of chatter.
My eldest loves to make his own transformers out of legos, fully articulated
and able to do those amazing maneuvers.
Both boys have said they want to become toy designers when they grow up
because of these.
Mary
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
interests, activities a passion for Transformers ~~
>Every time I touch a Transformer toy I am amazed at the engineering that
>
goes into each one of them. My husband gave the boys several from his own
childhood and they are really amazing...made mostly of metal. The newer ones
are mostly plastic. All of them are intriguing!
Seriously, try to transform one of them. Look at how all the little
intricate pieces MUST fit together in one specific way to make it work. Look
at how the designer had to make a head (for example) just generic enough
that once transformed it could look like a headlight, or grill ornament.
Transformer play around here has always led to this type of chatter.
My eldest loves to make his own transformers out of legos, fully articulated
and able to do those amazing maneuvers.
Both boys have said they want to become toy designers when they grow up
because of these.
Mary
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]