Cool Links: Freedom to Explore

Freedom to explore the world is something that we, as parents, want our children to have. We know that kids learn more when we let them figure things out on their own. It’s different to, for example, touch the bark of tree, than have a teacher tell you all about bark from a-z. The first kind of learning is active learning: it uses more of the brain and forces kids to think things through. It requires holding back and allowing children the freedom to explore what is in front of them. But it may not be as easy as it sounds to keep from explaining things to children.

Freedom to Explore a Drawing Tool

Neonflames is a drawing tool that can be used to offer your child this sort of freedom to explore. Pull up the page but don’t tell your child what to do or how to do it. Don’t say “It’s a drawing tool.” Just let your child noodle around on the page until he or she figures it out. With time your child will discover all sorts of special effects and colors that can be adjusted by the user. Your child may, for instance, click and hold the mouse at a single point on the page, just to see what happens. Encourage your child to think up new ways to play.

Freedom to Explore the Effects of Music on Mood

How often have we heard that music soothes the savage beast? Actually, we heard that wrong. The quote has nothing to do with animals, nor was it said by William Shakespeare, as many people think. The actual quote comes from an altogether different William, William Congreve, author of “The Mourning Bride.” The real quote? “Music has charms to soothe the savage breast.”

Congreve wrote that a long time ago. In 1697, to be exact. But scientists have been slow to reach the same conclusion about music. Over the past couple of decades, musicologists have begun to experiment to see the effects of music on mood and health, for instance, how music affects blood pressure.

A good example of this new genre of “mood music” is Weightless.

The 8-minute song, recorded by Marconi Union, a band from Manchester, England, was determined by sound therapists to have the ideal tempo of 60 beats per minute for synchronization with both heart and brainwaves. This makes the tune ideal for inducing a trance-like state of relaxation that can lead to a good night’s sleep. Listen to the song together with your child and see what happens! Ask your child what music might do the opposite and make people feel agitated. What music does your child listen to when s/he studies? Does music really change our mood?

CGI: Seeing What Is and Isn’t There

When we watch a movie, we often see amazing computer generated imagery (CGI) effects, that, well, aren’t really there. The film technique known as green screen is a perfect example of this sort of movie magic trick. Talk to your child about the green screen technique, then show your child before and after stills from these famous green screen movie scenes.

The next time you watch a movie together, see if your child can spot where the green screen technique was used.The lesson implicit here is that what we see on the screen is, in general, not what it seems. In movies, just as in real life, it is important not to take what we see at face value.  Besides, who knows? Looking at these photos and discussing green screen may just inspire your child to a career as a filmmaker!

Freedom to Imagine Any Room You Like!

In general, people don’t have a single talent, but several that can serve as a guide to the ideal career. Think about interior design and architecture, two related fields. Both fields need an eye for beauty and pleasing lines, along with an understanding of how people actually use their living spaces. To become an interior designer or an architect, one needs to know math, have a knowledge of building materials, an understanding of the weather, the environment, wildlife, and plants. Not to mention that one also needs to be able to sketch and visualize an as yet un-built room or building fully-formed.

All that is probably just the tip of the iceberg. And even if your child doesn’t have all those skills, there may be just enough of those talents to make it worth exploring whether one of these professions might be a good fit. It is only natural then, that you will want to show your child photos of amazing examples of creative interior design. We very much liked these 31 rooms.

Some of the rooms are amazing (Water slide in the bedroom closet? Yes, please.), while some of them are, well, UGLY. What features are pleasing to your child’s eyes? Why do the materials work well together? How well do the rooms mesh with their settings? What kind of people live in these rooms? What do they like to do? Why do we find some rooms a turnoff? How might they be improved?

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Editor’s note: This post was originally published May 22, 2014, and has been completely revised and updated for accuracy and scope.