Teaching Programming to Kids

Just the other day, it just popped into my head that perhaps I should teach Chloe, who is now 6 years and 7 months old, programming.

After looking around, I have finally decided to go with FMSLogo. It’s visual, interpreted and simple enough for kids. In addition, I also vaguely remember that I had also used Logo long ago when I started my association with programming as well.

It definitely helps that there are online resources that give additional guidance on how to make this work with kids. Given my lack of time, the availability of such material as the Logo Workshop Homepage really makes it so much easier.

Since my sister’s also has 2 kids in the same age range, I extended the offer to teach them together. Hope that works out and doesn’t become a nightmare!

Well, planning to start either next weekend or the following one and it should be a weekly session. Updates once we get going.

Additional resources for those interested in using Logo for teaching kids programming: MSWLogo Homepage and its links to many more resources.

Filed under: Family, Happenings, IT Architecture, Design and Programming, Notes

It’s about time

Time flew past and it’s been more than a year since my last post.

Last year was an extremely hectic year for me… so what had happened?

My project at work finally went live this January! That’s the main reason there’s some room to catch a breath. Also, Chloe’s in Primary 1 now at Radin Mas Primary School and Kayden’s just started full day childcare. Erica has also changed jobs and is now currently employed by NUS’s Denistry Department.

What else happened? Seems like an old friend might drop out from our circle as he seems to no longer have time for us. Hopefully he will bounce back in sometime soon and we will still be around to welcome him back.

Reunited with another old friend who came back from an overseas assignment. And with that, I was also introduced to the wide world of designer boardgames.

Have also stopped playing online – both gameknot and conquerclub. And I’ve also given away my Magic the Gathering cards (except for 3 decks) to my cousin’s son, Benjamin. Will probably pass the other decks over sometime later.

Filed under: Family, Happenings

The difference between knowing and doing

Always back up all our precious data.

That’s one of the very first rules we learn, and one we keep delaying for one reason or another.

In my case, I did back up my data (more than 5 years worth of family photos). It was in my aging home PC and in my laptop, and I thought I burnt it into a CDROM too.

However, if you cannot find your backup, it is as good as not having done a backup. Similarly if you cannot access your backup which can happen.

In my case, I cannot locate the CDROM (now I am not even sure if I did burn it). And my laptop was returned to my previous employer when I changed jobs earlier this year so the photos were on my PC hard disk.

When my brother offered me his old PC (still newer than mine), I shut down my PC to do a re-installation and move my stuff over later when I find the time.

When I finally tried to start my PC 2 months later, it refused. My hard disks crashed and along with it went all my precious photos.

Refusing to panic, I moved the hard disks to my newer PC and tried to see if I can boot it up. It failed.

Next up, search the internet for hard disk data recovery services. I found quite a few and chose one. After a few days, the evaluation report came back – read/write head electrical damage and severe damage to the platter. All of which means it requires major surgery and major costs with no guarantee that all the data will be recovered. I am still agonizing over whether to proceed due to the costs involved.

And hoping that some contacts can provide a less costly alternative.

So, don’t wait to do your backups. In a way, backups are very similar to insurance policies, you don’t want to use it but you should at least have sufficient coverage.

BACK UP YOUR DATA TODAY!

If you can help me, please contact me NOW- you can do it while your data is being backed up.

Also share how you do your backup. I am setting up my backup solution soon.

Filed under: Family, Happenings, Hardware, Notes

My son and his once long curly hair

After almost a year, Kayden’s hair is a mess of curls. But they do make him look so cute! The many “so cute” comments directed at him certainly proved that. But then the comments also usually tags him as her.

So it was time for the designated family barber for the kids (i.e. me) to straighten it out. I had spotted a barber set on sale ($12.90) at Carrefour some days ago and just in time too.

It comes with a year of warranty as well… but that I had thrown the receipt away already by the time I opened the box and saw the warranty card.

It was a warm Sunday afternoon and it started well enough. Soon though, he was screaming as his fallen hair and the humid weather conspired to make him sticky and itchy and “hairy” uncomfortable.

It took 2 baths for him and lots of vacuuming and cleaning up but finally, it was over.

My wife’s first comment was that he doesn’t look as cute as before.

My mom then told me to leave his hair alone next time after she saw him that night.

My mom-in-law had a good laugh at his hair style (or lack of).

He sure looks different, differently adorable, and definitely more mischievous and cheeky. I would say I didn’t do too bad a job… hopefully the next time it will turn out better though. Probably need to add some style and leave more of his hair on top, I suppose.

Filed under: Family, Happenings