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Hey fellow parent stackers.
I wanted to do a post to share some of the learning resources our kids use/have used and hopefully some stackers will share their go to learning resources for their kiddos as well.
  • ABC Mouse: (Paid Subscription required) A great learning platform for little ones. My son used it from 2-7 years old and my daughter is currently using it. There is a learning path the kids can follow but also a classroom environment where they can choose many different subjects to play games, do puzzles, art, listen to books (read along), read books and watch videos.
  • Adventure Academy: (Paid Subscription required) Made by creators of ABC Mouse as well but geared towards kids 8-13. I found some of the lessons lacking in this one, especially for older kids but the environment, UX is incredible. An animated 3D world that allows kids to explore school grounds and surrounding areas and learn new things in each room/location.
  • Khan Academy/Khan Academy Kids: (Free) Kids' version is geared towards 2-8 years old and main version is geared towards everyone. A definite go to learning resource with lessons on pretty much everything. The kids one isn't as good as ABC Mouse in my opinion but it is still really good and it's free. My son loves using the main Khan Academy as a pseudo tutor. If he learned something in math that he needs a further grasp of he will use Khan Academy videos to help him along.
  • Tynker/Tynker Jr: (Paid Subscription required) Good and fun coding platform for kids. They get to code games using tynker designed code block language but can also advance to popular programming languages like python and java script.
  • Scratch/Scratch Jr: (Free) A good alternative for code block coding if you don't want to pay. My daughter really likes Scratch Jr and Scratch is good as well but I have found at least with my son he spends more time on Scratch playing other people's games than actually building and learning.
  • Synthesis: (Paid subscription) My son has been doing Synthesis for a couple years. This is the learning/critical thinking platform developed by the teacher that used to tutor Elon's kids. It's for kids 8-14. The kids form teams and play various games that challenge their ability to solve problems cooperatively. It's great but the amount of games is limited. The games do change and goals, teams etc change as well but I have found once the kids know the ins and outs of the games it doesn't provide as much value as when they are fumbling their way through at the beginning. They also have a math tutor platform which is good but only goes up to ages 11. I believe they plan to expand this offering.
  • Biochemistry Literacy for Kids: (Paid subscription) My son did this program a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. It's meant to teach college level Biochemistry in a basic form
Other fun things we/the kids have tried:
  • coolmathgames.com
  • edx.org
  • atomas game (available via app download)
  • Baby University Board Books https://www.csferrie.com/books
  • National Geographic Science Kits (available at Amazon, Walmart, Toys r us etc)
  • Simply Piano (app download)
  • Quick chess (board game)
  • Micro bit coding robots
  • Magnetic tiles
I am sure I am forgetting some. Looking forward to learning about some other good ones from my fellow stackers!
Sats for all, GR
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What do you think are the most important lessons they learn from these programs? What do you think is lacking?
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Each program is different and offers a different way to learn and access to many different lessons, subjects, methods. So the biggest lesson overall might be just a passion for learning and seeking out the best learning tools that suit you.
It’s great that at times they can me stuck on something on one platform but then review it in khan academy and it is presented in a different way so they get it.
Just trying to give them access to as many tools as I can.
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I saw elsewhere in the thread the topic of media came up…I was thinking today, the movie Chicken Run might be a good suggestion for parents who want their children to grow up questioning authority. It’s literally got one chicken who convinces the other chickens to fight for their lives :)
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Chicken run is a fun movie. I have watched that one with the kiddos.
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Khan Academy is is very useful!
Thanks for the post! My brother has recently become a father and I can recommend him these now.
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Congratulations to your brother.
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Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
coolmathgames.com edx.org atomas game (available via app download) Baby University Board Books https://www.csferrie.com/books National Geographic Science Kits (available at Amazon, Walmart, Toys r us etc) Simply Piano (app download) Quick chess (board game) Micro bit coding robots Magnetic tiles
I am going to use many of these.
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Thanks for sharing these.
We use Khan Academy Kids a little bit and Duolingo ABC. I'll look into scratch.
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My son has used Duolingo as well. Forgot that one.
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For foreign language or when he was learning to read?
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He was learning french and spanish. He didn't get very far.
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I guess you guys have a reason to do French up there, but it's just the worst.
I've done lots of Duolingo. I'm not sure it's very effective, but it is fun.
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I can read French reasonably well but I can't speak it very well.
I guess if you want to work for the government learning french is useful in Canada but I don't think it's a big deal anymore. People who were bilingual used to earn a lot more in Canada but that's not really the case anymore.
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I suppose it isn't horrible to read. Every once in a while I'll come across a French quote and it is neat to be able to make some of them out. Speaking or writing, though, are a completely different story.
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Yes when reading you can take your time and if you understand most of the words you can infer what is being said.
Thak you so much!
Bookmarked it!
Will require them in coming years.
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63 sats \ 4 replies \ @398ja 9 Jul
This will be helpful with the summer holidays approaching. Synthesis looks really cool, and I'm sure my 8yo will love it. I'll explore the other ones too. Thank you!!
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63 sats \ 3 replies \ @398ja 9 Jul
I've just registered mine for their summer program, and crossing fingers that we get a place. Apparently, they're overwhelmed with submissions...
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My son is currently doing the summer program but he is turning 14 soon and the max age is 13 so that will be the end of his synthesis unless they expand the offering to older kids.
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63 sats \ 1 reply \ @398ja 10 Jul
Yay! We've got a place for the summer program starting mid-july.
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That's great. Hope your kiddo likes it.
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100 sats \ 1 reply \ @OT 8 Jul
Thanks for sharing.
My kids are still quite young so we haven't really been using many apps/education platforms. I might start on that ABC mouse though as I've heard others mention it too.
Mind if I ask how much you pay on subscriptions? I know synthesis is expensive, but if the kids are learning its probably worth it.
We use a few Australian TV channels like playschool and bluey. They also watch some shows in Cantonese like the octonaughts or Hulu brothers.
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I think we pay $60USD a year for abc mouse.
Synthesis is pretty expensive. Around $100 USD a month.
Tynker had a deal some years ago. I think it was $250 for a lifetime subscription, so I just got that. I am not sure what they charge monthly now.
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Bookmarked.
I don’t have any resources to add to the list, but here are two episodes to get kids started on their Bitcoin journey:
  1. Season 2 Episode 3 (Bitcoin and the Beast) of “Tuttle Twins” features Bitcoin. The twins need to decide which is better when selling their dad’s old video game - Bitcoin or fiat. 2.Episode 3 of the new Futurama season features Bitcoin mining. In the episode "How the West Was 1010001," the main characters owed a debt to the robot mafia and were hence forced to travel West to "Crypto Country”.
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My kids have seen the Tuttle twins show. Haven’t watched the futurama one.
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Thanks!
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Play in the dirt with your kids. Everything we need to learn about is outside in the real world.
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Your son is studying biochemistry?
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He did this 24 unit course. Yes.
He is a smart kid. Definitely doesn’t get it from me.
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Impressive
I'm also impressed by the list of programs you found!
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This is a great list thanks. And bookmarked.
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