Prepare Teens for a High-Tech Future

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Become Your Child's Robot
It may be your worst fear to have to do exactly what your child tells you, but in the following case, it will teach him or her about precision and communicating instructions.

Have your child write down the instructions a robot would follow to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in your kitchen. The directions should include how to find the contents and what to do with them. Emphasize that every movement must be detailed or else the robot won't make the sandwich correctly. When they are done, you become the "robot" and follow the directions word-for-word, even if it means you never take the lid off the peanut butter.

Introducing Technology
These activities help children identify relationships among objects, distinguish relevant from irrelevant information, and sequence and prioritize information. In addition, they introduce the basic concepts of computers and the chips that power them. Technology is an excellent way to teach problem-solving and critical thinking, as they are necessary components for technological advancements. Inventions come from imagination, analysis and problem-solving.

Take Advantage of Outside Resources
As parents look for resources and activities to keep children stimulated and learning, they should consider the various outside resources such as museums, state parks and libraries. Many of these organizations offer free programs designed specifically for child development.

For instance, at the Intel Museum, we foster critical thinking skills by introducing complex concepts of science and technology in fun and entertaining ways. The museum's brightly colored, interactive exhibits explain how microprocessors have evolved, how they work and what they do, creating, what we hope will be an unending curiosity about technology.

You can bring the learning home through high-tech gifts and gadgets, including the 3-D puzzle ball mentioned above, sold in the Intel Museum Store. Best of all, admission and parking are free. The museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm, Mondays through Fridays, and from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays, excluding holidays. More information can be found at www.intel.com/go/museum or by calling (408) 765-0503.

Parents are constantly teaching lessons that contribute to their children's future success. Focusing on problem-solving, technology and critical thinking will serve them in many aspects of their lives as they face an increasingly high-tech future.

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About the author: Sue Sato conducts school programs at the Intel Museum in Santa Clara and is a mother of two children.

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