As a parent, I’m always looking for role models who will appeal to and inspire my kids in their areas of interest. Today’s “Required Viewing” video will teach your kids about why invention matters, the benefits of creativity, and why it can be fun to get messy.
Check out the “Hack a banana, make a keyboard!” video, an April 2013 TED talk by Jay Silver, the co-inventor of the popular MaKey MaKey invention kit. The kit allows you to turn everyday objects into parts of a computer-based system. I’ve written about how my daughters have used their own MaKey MaKey kit, and how it lets kids dream about ideas and rapidly prototype their inventions and then put them to the test.
I’m always curious to know the story behind how products come to be, so it was especially interesting to hear how Jay’s trip to Costa Rica profoundly impacted the way he viewed the products we use every day and question how they are made. That experience eventually led him to create the MaKey MaKey kit so that people could change the world through inventions.
Jay has a warm and engaging personality that kids will like, and the video is great for all ages and interests– from elementary students all the way through high school. For those kids who like to invent, hack, and enjoy art and design, I think they will find this talk especially interesting.
What your children will take away from Jay’s messages:
- “Let’s change the way the world works.” In a very positive manner, Jay encourages you to look at everyday objects and consider how they could be refigured into something new and potentially beneficial. For example, MaKey MaKey has helped people with accessibility issues to do things they couldn’t before, like type on a keyboard.
- “Be an agent of creative change.” Jay has a love of creativity and it’s an important theme throughout his talk. He also emphasizes that children are more open to new ideas and changes than adults… so it’s important to get kids in an “invention” mindset at a young age when they’re open-minded.
- “The world is your construction kit.” There are no boundaries, so go ahead and be creative, explore, try new things, and get messy!
Jay’s TED talk will make kids smile (and adults too) and help them to think about how the objects they use every day could be used differently. They’ll also learn that inventing is not only fun but can lead to practical new applications that benefit society.
