Our Favourite Tech Gadgets for Kids

Today we are seeing more and more tech gadgets enter the market and there is no exception when it comes to tech gadget for kids and teens.

Teaching children to code and build hardware and even more importantly about the interconnection of hardware and software in todays fast paced tech world is crucial and transforms them from passive users to innovators. It also helps them realise their full potential and gives them a great deal of confidence. 

Here are a few of our favourite tech gadgets for children and teenagers who enjoy building hardware as well as computer programming.

What is your favourite tech gadget for teaching computer programming to children? 

Do you have a favourite hardware or robotics gadget for kids and teens that we have missed?

Let us know! 

Star Wars BB8 Droid Sphero

By now you have no doubt heard of the Star Wars BB8 Droid Sphero. This popular toy featured in the latest Star Wars movie has A.I incorporated and acts as a robot that follows commands.

Kano

Kano is a fully functional pocket sized computer, similar to the very popular Raspberry Pi. It is a great device that can be used in tech camps for kids to teach kids how to build their own computer and learn computer programming.

LittleBits

LittleBits is based on a modular system, where circuits are interconnected in the form of modules. It It was voted Gadget of the year 2015 by Time Magazine, it is a great gadget for teaching youngsters about electronics. You can learn more about LittleBits and its online community here.

Ozobot

Ozbot is a cute robots that can be used for teaching computer coding to kids via its programming interface which is user friendly and easy to use at the same time, making it ideal for young tech enthusiasts.

Eedu

Eedu is a DIY programmable drone kit that is easy to build. As drones are becoming more and more popular, you child can get a head start with this kit. It is also compatible with Forge, which has a large open source community base.

Tech Activities For Kids In London

• Holiday Tech Camps for Kids

Tech camps are an excellent way to encourage young minds towards technological advances. These camps offer some of the most interesting and innovative programs for kids in a fun and engaging way. Kids can learn many new programs and software’s that would help them in the long run. Camps in London are supposed to help children think independently so that they can learn to fend for themselves. In this way kids can choose an activity according to their area of interest, be it in the field of robotics, computer games, app design or web programming the opportunities are endless! Mostly at the end of tech summer camps, kids are provided with tools to make their own games or robots so that they get firsthand experience in the field and become an amateur developer.

• Coding Courses for Kids

We live in a digital age where coding is important for adults and kids alike. Therefore, every kid should know how electronic devices that we use on a daily basis work and how to operate and control them. In London, it was announced that from 2014 every child will be taught coding in primary school, because raising a generation of a bunch of children who can code will have huge benefits on the future economy of London. Making kids learn coding courses develop the ability in them to give commands to computer through experimentation and concepts at an early age. Coding clubs should teach kids the art of coding in an environment where they feel empowered, certainly schools are out of question. These summer activities are definitely the best way to let your kids learn the basics of coding in a fun and creative way.

• Science Museum

Summer holidays are not worth it if kids do not visit the science museum in London. This museum is the most visited science and technology museum in the UK. There are interactive exhibits throughout the museum where kids can get valuable information and learn about the latest technologies under one roof. From simulator rides to technological advancements, there is something for every kid. There are over 15000 objects on display ranging from rockets to command capsules. Moreover, the kids can get hand on experience of flying into space and Apollo missions in stunning 3D and 4D simulators or watch the solar system on IMAX 3D cinema.

Ways To Get More Girls Into Coding

According to statistics, only 17% of UK tech jobs are held by women. According to one study it has been found that around 83% of girls come out of school without learning anything about computer coding despite the computer science courses that are available. It seems surprising knowing the fact that the first algorithm to design a machine was given by a woman, Ada Lovelace. 

However, new ideas are being implicated by the government such as, announcements that are trying to incline students especially females more towards computer programming in schools. It is important to create inclination of girls towards coding as they are thought to be more determined and hard working from an early age. According to studies, girls are thought to succeed over boys in school because of their long set academic goals and the efforts that they invest in order to achieve these goals. 

As time is passing, how many of us actually look into paper maps anymore or anything that’s in paper work for that matter? We’re living a fast life and want everything at the palm of our hands. With the IT world growing and advancing at such a rapid pace, we need more people working in this field of study. Knowing how programming could be beneficial towards us and our society but the question is how do we specifically get more girls into coding? We present you a few ways!

Female Role Models

A geeky teenage boy sitting in the basement with his computer and dealing with a lot of numbers! Isn’t this the image that the social media has set for us when it comes to coding and computer programming? In order to interest more girls towards this profession, it’s really important to present to them female role models with a background that generally every student can relate to and connect with. This can be hard, provided that the numbers of women that are already in this field are far less. Nevertheless, the students should be provided with mentors from an early age to help them at every step of the way!

Use of Social Media

A study reports that 92% of teens are reported to go online daily. Social Media should be taken into consideration and graphic designers, app developers, should create interesting and fun coding apps and games for teenage girls especially. This could incline women more towards this field of knowledge and could develop a great amount of interest in coding.

Familiarity

Coding classes should be made mandatory in schools and educational institutions from an early stage to create more awareness and familiarity. These classes should be conducted from the start by high profile programmers so as to attract youth to discover more about coding and the latest technological trends. Parents can also encourage their girls to attend holiday tech camps where they get real life hands-on practical experience with coding and hardware gadgets.

Engaging

In order to motivate more girls towards coding, it is important to spread information about it by opting for a more simplified approach. Start off by looking for more engaging ways to get girls to understand and additional ways that would interest them more towards the idea of coding. It is really important especially for our youth to understand that coding isn’t only for geeks and nerds!

Bermotech Code Camps for Kids

Bermotech have taken a unique approach to delivering coding and app development training courses, designing and creating exclusive summer and half term ‘Coding and App Development Tech Camps' for children and teenagers. The courses are a stimulating, educational spin on the traditional 'summer camp' activities, focussing on the coding skills required to design and create exciting mobile apps.

Bermotech founder Narges Berry commented “Our aim was to teach students iPhone app development in a fun and engaging way, empowering and encouraging the youngsters to create their own fully functional app within their group.”

The company has successfully hosted many iPhone app development groups with groups of 13-15 year old teenagers and 9-12 year old children attending the courses run by Bermotech. 

The budding developers work together to create and produce an app idea. 

Here are some outstanding mobile apps which are now available for download on the App Store:

Group 1 - Children

App created: iBored 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibored/id912210687?ls=1&mt=8

Group 2 - Teenagers 

App created: Cryptid 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cryptid/id919552754?ls=1&mt=8

Group 3 - Teenagers 

App created: Function Express

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/function-express/id905501199?ls=1&mt=8

Group 3 - Teenagers 

App created: Function Express

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/function-express/id905501199?ls=1&mt=8

Since the completion of the course, several of the students have already began enthusiastic development of their own mobile apps using the skills they've developed on Bermotech's 'App Development Code Camp’. 

Bermotech are also keen to promote the inclusion of more female students in the STEM (science, technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects. Many of the conventional coding and developing industry niches have a disproportionate number of male to female professionals, so by encouraging more girls to get involved at an earlier age, Bermotech hopes to be able to positively improve the opportunities available to women in STEM fields. 

Contact: Narges Berry

Email: narges@bermotech.com

Telephone: 020 7586 1602

Web: http://www.bermotech.com

Teaching Kids to Code

You don't have to be a genius to be able to code. 
You have to be determined.