Comments on: Five Dangerous Things at TED http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/ think of what to build, build what you think of Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:04:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Nick http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3474 Nick Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:25:12 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3474 Excellent TED Talk, can't wait to hear the other 45 (44?, but who's counting) in your book! Excellent TED Talk, can’t wait to hear the other 45 (44?, but who’s counting) in your book!

]]> By: Sarita Yardi http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3477 Sarita Yardi Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:31:14 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3477 Where did you come up with the idea for the Tinkering School? Where did you come up with the idea for the Tinkering School?

]]> By: Andrea Debije http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3478 Andrea Debije Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:22:19 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3478 I love the talk! can tinkeringschool come to Europe? as a creative, visual design mum I would love to send my kids to your week of fun learning and exploring;-) I love the talk! can tinkeringschool come to Europe?
as a creative, visual design mum I would love to send my kids to your week of fun learning and exploring;-)

]]> By: AMK http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3480 AMK Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:23:14 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3480 Found you via the video (via a friend's blog). Loved it! What an awesome concept the Tinkering School is. I would have LOVED that as a kid. Wish I could come work for you and put my engineering degrees to good use! Found you via the video (via a friend’s blog). Loved it! What an awesome concept the Tinkering School is. I would have LOVED that as a kid. Wish I could come work for you and put my engineering degrees to good use!

]]> By: kaveh http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3481 kaveh Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:26:41 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3481 I was very impressed with your TED presentation, but I have to admit that I am even more impressed with what you're doing! This is simply AMAZING. Keep up the wonderful you and your wife are doing (oh, and please keep it going ... our son has a little over fours to quality for Tinkering School ;) I was very impressed with your TED presentation, but I have to admit that I am even more impressed with what you’re doing! This is simply AMAZING. Keep up the wonderful you and your wife are doing (oh, and please keep it going … our son has a little over fours to quality for Tinkering School ;)

]]> By: Tim http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3482 Tim Sun, 06 Jan 2008 13:19:21 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3482 Tremendous advice. So much discovery and learning is being taken away by over-protective parents and the nanny state. Children are resilient and eager to learn. Great work! Tremendous advice. So much discovery and learning is being taken away by over-protective parents and the nanny state. Children are resilient and eager to learn. Great work!

]]> By: Rann Fox http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3483 Rann Fox Sun, 06 Jan 2008 14:00:38 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3483 I have one more for your GREAT list. Learning to shoot a gun in a controlled enviroment. Yes I'm from a rual location but the act of learning the rules to use a firearm is very important otherwise they will learn to do so from the kids they run around with at school. I have started my child with a paintball gun at 7yrs including what it feels like to get hit and the time honored "If you shoot it you eat it" credo. We must teach the rules of the game to a child so he does not learn the gangster type of thought pattern that is so common in the urban areas today. I have one more for your GREAT list. Learning to shoot a gun in a controlled enviroment. Yes I’m from a rual location but the act of learning the rules to use a firearm is very important otherwise they will learn to do so from the kids they run around with at school. I have started my child with a paintball gun at 7yrs including what it feels like to get hit and the time honored “If you shoot it you eat it” credo. We must teach the rules of the game to a child so he does not learn the gangster type of thought pattern that is so common in the urban areas today.

]]> By: Erno Mijland http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3485 Erno Mijland Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:52:59 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3485 Great talk! I recognize the problem very well. Here in Holland it is increasingly difficult to organize activities for kids due to strict regulations from insurance companies, fire brigades, city councils etc. etc. Therefore it's increasingly less fun for volunteers to organize events. Great talk! I recognize the problem very well. Here in Holland it is increasingly difficult to organize activities for kids due to strict regulations from insurance companies, fire brigades, city councils etc. etc. Therefore it’s increasingly less fun for volunteers to organize events.

]]> By: Samn http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3486 Samn Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:54:00 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3486 Hi Gever - I really enjoyed 5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do, which I found linked on Digg. In high school, my best friend and I gained invaluable knowledge outside of the classroom by doing things for which our parents would have grounded us eternally. We had axes and matches, pellet guns and bowling balls. We learned about explosions and fire and the best way to put out fires. We learned about inertia, velocity, trajectory, and first aid. We got splinters and burns and he got some shrapnel one time, and we got cut and bruised and I almost lost a thumb and we both know how much it sucks to get electrocuted. But in all those years, we never suffocated on plastic wrap or choked on a board game piece. We learned what was safe and what wasn't, first hand, and we learned it in permanent, unforgettable ways. I worry about children, even from my generation, who aren't allowed to interact with potentially dangerous properties. Rather than teaching children what is safe and unsafe about everything they will encounter, we take a shortcut by having them avoid unsafe things altogether. That doesn't help them grow up. Maybe my friend and I took it a bit far at times, but I don't think anyone can argue that what we did wasn't ultimately useful to our development. Hi Gever - I really enjoyed 5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do, which I found linked on Digg. In high school, my best friend and I gained invaluable knowledge outside of the classroom by doing things for which our parents would have grounded us eternally.

We had axes and matches, pellet guns and bowling balls. We learned about explosions and fire and the best way to put out fires. We learned about inertia, velocity, trajectory, and first aid. We got splinters and burns and he got some shrapnel one time, and we got cut and bruised and I almost lost a thumb and we both know how much it sucks to get electrocuted.

But in all those years, we never suffocated on plastic wrap or choked on a board game piece. We learned what was safe and what wasn’t, first hand, and we learned it in permanent, unforgettable ways. I worry about children, even from my generation, who aren’t allowed to interact with potentially dangerous properties. Rather than teaching children what is safe and unsafe about everything they will encounter, we take a shortcut by having them avoid unsafe things altogether. That doesn’t help them grow up.

Maybe my friend and I took it a bit far at times, but I don’t think anyone can argue that what we did wasn’t ultimately useful to our development.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3487 Jonathan Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:08:33 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3487 That was a great talk. Simply Brilliant. I have a six year old that I'm trying to teach some of those very things (and you gave me some ideas) much to his moms dismay at times. thanks if you are ever in atlanta send me a email I'd love to talk . That was a great talk. Simply Brilliant. I have a six year old that I’m trying to teach some of those very things (and you gave me some ideas) much to his moms dismay at times.

thanks if you are ever in atlanta send me a email I’d love to talk .

]]> By: Boring Market http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3488 Boring Market Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:32:36 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3488 This is one the best talks I have seen in a long time, a simple yet innovative way to think about the growth of our children. Thanks for sharing this. This is one the best talks I have seen in a long time, a simple yet innovative way to think about the growth of our children. Thanks for sharing this.

]]> By: Joergen Geerds http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3489 Joergen Geerds Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:39:29 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3489 Great talk... I had a childhood where I was allowed to explore all the things mentioned in your talk... and it made me a curious person. Even today, I take i.e. a printer apart before putting recyclables out to the curb, just to learn how stuff works. Great talk… I had a childhood where I was allowed to explore all the things mentioned in your talk… and it made me a curious person. Even today, I take i.e. a printer apart before putting recyclables out to the curb, just to learn how stuff works.

]]> By: concerned parent http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3490 concerned parent Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:40:07 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3490 Only two have been sent home with injuries? I'll pass on this charade. Only two have been sent home with injuries? I’ll pass on this charade.

]]> By: Dawn http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3491 Dawn Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:57:45 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3491 Funny that I saw this clip the day after hearing the "<a href="http://www.cartalk.com/ct/review/show.jsp?showid=200801" rel="nofollow">All Wheel Drive Jungle Gym</a>" episode on Car Talk. A woman called in who had 4 kids ages 6-10 who adore taking stuff apart. She wanted to set up an old car in the yard for the kids to play in and take apart and she called in to ask for advice on how to kid-proof it a bit (e.g. remove flammable & toxic liquids). I thought it sounded like a great idea but the hosts thought it was a terrible idea and thought the kids would get their fingers crushed by a carburetor. Funny that I saw this clip the day after hearing the “All Wheel Drive Jungle Gym” episode on Car Talk. A woman called in who had 4 kids ages 6-10 who adore taking stuff apart. She wanted to set up an old car in the yard for the kids to play in and take apart and she called in to ask for advice on how to kid-proof it a bit (e.g. remove flammable & toxic liquids). I thought it sounded like a great idea but the hosts thought it was a terrible idea and thought the kids would get their fingers crushed by a carburetor.

]]> By: mr spaceman http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3492 mr spaceman Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:54:31 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3492 You're on Digg's front page for videos. I'd like to give your book to everyone I know who has kids. Hope to see it come out soon. You’re on Digg’s front page for videos. I’d like to give your book to everyone I know who has kids. Hope to see it come out soon.

]]> By: Mike http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3493 Mike Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:42:56 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3493 Wow! Amazing talk! I really think the whole bubble wrap your children mentality is a serious issue facing western culture with this generation of kids. We don't realize how much is being missed in the development of a child by not allowing them the freedom to explore and learn from the world around them. Kudos to you for recognizing this problem, and creating a really innovative, and fun solution! Wow! Amazing talk! I really think the whole bubble wrap your children mentality is a serious issue facing western culture with this generation of kids. We don’t realize how much is being missed in the development of a child by not allowing them the freedom to explore and learn from the world around them. Kudos to you for recognizing this problem, and creating a really innovative, and fun solution!

]]> By: Tom Heck http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3495 Tom Heck Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:33:28 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3495 I love your TED presentation. It brought back great memories (I'm 46) like making and throwing spears and sitting on my mom's lap and driving her car in a big empty parking lot when I was just 7 years old. In the latest issue of Make Magazine there are instructions for making a cool spear (dart) throwing device called an atlatl. When my 8 year old son saw the photos he said "Let's make that daddy!". A year ago I took my son to the World Champion Punkin Chunkin contest in Deleware (google it) and we became totally inspired. We witnessed a couple of dangerous near misses but MAN was it cool to see pumpkins fly so far! We built a cool trebuchet from a kit that hurles golf balls - - you can see a video here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7960942331526208008&hl=en I can hardly wait to get a copy of your book. I love your TED presentation. It brought back great memories (I’m 46) like making and throwing spears and sitting on my mom’s lap and driving her car in a big empty parking lot when I was just 7 years old.

In the latest issue of Make Magazine there are instructions for making a cool spear (dart) throwing device called an atlatl. When my 8 year old son saw the photos he said “Let’s make that daddy!”.

A year ago I took my son to the World Champion Punkin Chunkin contest in Deleware (google it) and we became totally inspired. We witnessed a couple of dangerous near misses but MAN was it cool to see pumpkins fly so far! We built a cool trebuchet from a kit that hurles golf balls - - you can see a video here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7960942331526208008&hl=en

I can hardly wait to get a copy of your book.

]]> By: rhys lewis http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3501 rhys lewis Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:54:16 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3501 Just found your website from the TED talk you did. Great talk - inspiring. Just off to buy some matches and two swiss army knives for my boys. Thanks Rhys Just found your website from the TED talk you did. Great talk - inspiring. Just off to buy some matches and two swiss army knives for my boys.

Thanks

Rhys

]]> By: Francesco http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3502 Francesco Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:58:56 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3502 Thanks, thanks for this talk. The video was still running, and already I was looking for your book on Amazon (just to find out it wasn't out yet) Driving a car is the only one of those things my 9-years old hasn't done yet, and breaking up appliances is the one he loves most. A VCR-motor part, just like the one the girl was holding in your presentation, is the starting part of his cyborg costume for this year. As for a knife, a round-tipped Opinel like <a href="http://www.opinel.com/fiche-A%7COPINEL%7C001201-030101030000.html" rel="nofollow">this one</a> is perfect (note the locking ring) and the manufactures itself reccomends it starting from age 7. My kid keeps building his own tools, magic wands and spears with it. Can't wait for your book to get out. Please finish it before he grows up! Thanks, thanks for this talk.

The video was still running, and already I was looking for your book on Amazon (just to find out it wasn’t out yet)

Driving a car is the only one of those things my 9-years old hasn’t done yet, and breaking up appliances is the one he loves most. A VCR-motor part, just like the one the girl was holding in your presentation, is the starting part of his cyborg costume for this year.

As for a knife, a round-tipped Opinel like this one is perfect (note the locking ring) and the manufactures itself reccomends it starting from age 7. My kid keeps building his own tools, magic wands and spears with it.

Can’t wait for your book to get out. Please finish it before he grows up!

]]> By: Scott http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3503 Scott Sun, 13 Jan 2008 01:55:04 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3503 <strong>5 things....</strong> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE! (emphasis added) Our society is raising a generation of 'bubbleboys and girls' with no experience short of their IM client and cell/text phone. Might as well lock them in and remake the <code>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074236/</code> greatest John Travolta movie ever! Bring the Mobile Tinkering School to PA next year and we'll use fire to make some championship BBQ! 5 things….

I COULDN’T AGREE MORE! (emphasis added)

Our society is raising a generation of ‘bubbleboys and girls’ with no experience short of their IM client and cell/text phone. Might as well lock them in and remake the http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074236/ greatest John Travolta movie ever!

Bring the Mobile Tinkering School to PA next year and we’ll use fire to make some championship BBQ!

]]> By: David Studley http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3504 David Studley Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:10:57 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3504 I enjoyed the presentation. How's the book coming? I can't wait for it! Cheers, David I enjoyed the presentation. How’s the book coming? I can’t wait for it! Cheers, David

]]> By: julie http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3535 julie Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:43:13 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3535 Probably a little late for the clarification but no one has ever been injured at Tinkering School requiring anything more than a small band-aid. And no one has left early - only as scheduled at the end of the session (possibly with a small band-aid still stuck on). Most of the band-aids were for a couple of adult helpers (who did not unfortunately grow up using a pocket knife, or, apparently, a kitchen knife). Probably a little late for the clarification but no one has ever been injured at Tinkering School requiring anything more than a small band-aid. And no one has left early - only as scheduled at the end of the session (possibly with a small band-aid still stuck on). Most of the band-aids were for a couple of adult helpers (who did not unfortunately grow up using a pocket knife, or, apparently, a kitchen knife).

]]> By: Neil Poynton http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3540 Neil Poynton Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:19:05 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3540 I thought I was alone in this way of thinking thank the Lord I'm not the sane parent out there, an excellent talk/concept. I'm in South Africa and although it's not as bubble wrapped as the states it is still over protected and over regulated. I'd love to start something like tinker school here. Any ideas how to get it started. My son and I built a water atomiser than runs on the car battery and splits the water atoms into hydrogen and oxygen gas - we had a lot of fun lighting the gas - makes a nice bang. the idea was to feed the gas into his mom's car's fuel system and see if it'll run but we haven't got that far yet. I also echo the sentiments of the firearm dad, as a sport shooter I have firearms in the house and I wanted my kids to know how to handle and shoot them safely. I was a kid once and I know they will find a gun at a friends house and they need to know the rules so nobody dies. Thanks again! Regards Neil Poynton - real dad I thought I was alone in this way of thinking thank the Lord I’m not the sane parent out there, an excellent talk/concept.
I’m in South Africa and although it’s not as bubble wrapped as the states it is still over protected and over regulated.
I’d love to start something like tinker school here. Any ideas how to get it started.
My son and I built a water atomiser than runs on the car battery and splits the water atoms into hydrogen and oxygen gas - we had a lot of fun lighting the gas - makes a nice bang. the idea was to feed the gas into his mom’s car’s fuel system and see if it’ll run but we haven’t got that far yet.
I also echo the sentiments of the firearm dad, as a sport shooter I have firearms in the house and I wanted my kids to know how to handle and shoot them safely. I was a kid once and I know they will find a gun at a friends house and they need to know the rules so nobody dies.
Thanks again!
Regards
Neil Poynton - real dad

]]> By: JJ http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3566 JJ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:39:09 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3566 Saw this video on Plain Jane Mom's blog. I loved the speech and love the idea of your school, but alas, live too far away. I have a question of logistics, however -- I have access to old appliances and wondered what you did with yours once you took them apart? Are you able to haul them off to the dump? Our church receives a lot of old appliances and I may be able to convince them to let me do a session with the kids to take them apart but I'd have to be able to dispose of things once the session was over. Thanks! Keep up the great work! Saw this video on Plain Jane Mom’s blog. I loved the speech and love the idea of your school, but alas, live too far away. I have a question of logistics, however — I have access to old appliances and wondered what you did with yours once you took them apart? Are you able to haul them off to the dump? Our church receives a lot of old appliances and I may be able to convince them to let me do a session with the kids to take them apart but I’d have to be able to dispose of things once the session was over. Thanks! Keep up the great work!

]]> By: donna http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3586 donna Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:58:23 +0000 http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2007/five-dangerous-things-at-ted/#comment-3586 The biggest risk of letting your kid have a pocket knife is that they will bring it to school and get expelled! (maybe a valuable lesson to be learned is to learn that different rules apply in different situations) Otherwise, you have inspired me. The biggest risk of letting your kid have a pocket knife is that they will bring it to school and get expelled! (maybe a valuable lesson to be learned is to learn that different rules apply in different situations) Otherwise, you have inspired me.

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