At Saturday Kids, our priority is ensuring kids have an awesome experience learning to code and reach the same meaningful learning outcomes they would’ve offline. And we won’t settle for anything less.

With kids at the center, and shaped by our insights from last year’s run of online camps (deja vu, anyone? ?  ) we’ve redesigned the Saturday Kids online experience, and we’re psyched to roll it out.

Read on to learn about the major changes, and how they might affect your plans:

1. Same amount of fun, shorter class times.

Our holiday camps are typically designed as 16 hour camps, with 3.25 hours of class time a day. While it’s possible to keep kids engaged like this in person, we know from our experience working with little kids and as big kids ourselves that this just isn’t likely to fly.

We’ve redesigned our camps for different age groups to account for the added constraint of remote delivery and its impact on kids’ attention spans, and a necessary part of that was the difficult decision to reduce the number of hours of class time without compromising learning outcomes. For kids ages 7-14, camps will be shortened from 16 to 12 hours, and for preschoolers ages 5-6, camps will be reduced from 16 to 6 hours.

With reduced class times, we’re also taking the opportunity to introduce kids to a friend of Saturday Kids, and a platform to further encourage their development as self-directed learners…

2. Introducing Galileo – an online self-directed global school – for kids ages 7-14! 

Kids are natural learners and independent thinkers – us educators are really just here to provide rockets and point to the stars. 

This Summer, we’re excited for your kids to try out something new from home. Partnering Galileo – an online, self-directed global school that helps kids become independent, self-directed, self-organised learners – kids ages 7-14 who are signed up for our holiday camps get an exclusive 1 month passport with unlimited access to Galileo Online Afterschool Clubs for the month of June (i.e. throughout the MOE school holidays).

That means up to 20 hours of fun-packed live learnin’ experiences in topics like film-making, foreign languages, leadership and problem-solving, and more – in the month of June. (You can read more about Saturday Kids’ founder John’s experience with Galileo here.)

The future (heck, the present) is uncertain and unpredictable – but one thing we’ll stake our bets on is that kids who are curious, self-directed, and globally aware learners are going to be the ones shaping the future. And we can’t wait for your curious kids to take the next step towards that.

3. Saturday Kids Virtual Playroom: Coming Soon.

It’s been a while in the making, but we’re psyched to be launching the beta version of Saturday Kids Virtual Playroom this Summer.

Designed as an online community for the kids who come through our doors, expect showcases of students’ creative coding projects, opportunities to apply their coding superpowers, and a directory of curated learning resources to keep ’em curious. Launching this Summer.

Our team will be reaching out to parents whose plans might be affected this Summer via phone and email, as well as to run through the nitty gritty of the changes we’ve implemented for this season of camps. As a small, independent business, we can’t overstate how much we appreciate the support and patience of our community; it’s folks like you who enable us to dream big, so we can inspire your kids to dream bigger.

Our online coding camps are open for new registrations from the public, with awesome virtual options available for kids ages 5-14. We’re keeping classes small and capping ’em at 4-5 kids each, so don’t wait too long book your spot.

Perhaps it goes without saying, but thank you for trusting us with your kids. It’s our privilege to keep ’em curious and inspire them to create a better world for themselves and others, and we hope to be able to keep doing this as long as we can.

The post Rediscover What it Means to Play, Online – What to Expect this Summer at Saturday Kids appeared first on Saturday Kids | Coding, Digital Literacy for Kids & Parents.

I’m writing this from our family home in the southern part of Austria, bordering Northern Italy and Slovenia, which are both just an hour’s drive away. It’s now end-May, and going by all key senses (sight, smell, and sound), we’re well into spring. Normally at this time of the year when the weather turns warmer, people would start flocking south to Italy, Slovenia or Croatia for weekend trips.

This year is obviously different.

5 months ago, we moved from Singapore to Austria with our 4.5 year old twins. Before long, Covid-19 rolled around and the country swiftly went into a semi-lockdown mode on March 14th with strict social distancing rules and closure of all non-essential businesses, parks and playgrounds. Like many families around the world, we found ourselves with the kids at home 24/7.

Being in a smaller town in Austria surrounded by nature and with a low population density, the impact of a lockdown has overall been gentler. Stripped of all social obligations, schedules, places to go to and people to visit, we began to relish (even more) the chance to be outdoors everyday while social distancing, especially when the weather is good and sunny. A walk in the woods, a bike ride round the neighbourhood, and spending time in the garden – these are all still permissible activities we look forward to as a way to break the monotony of staying indoors. 

By now, most of us would have gotten used to some kind of a stay home routine – consisting of WFH, HBL (in whichever form that might take or none at all, depending on your kids’ age) and keeping everyone fed, active, happy and alive while collectively trying to make sense of this upside down world as best as we can.

For all the relative disruption this lockdown brings, it also created an opportunity for us to slow down and really be with the kids, especially during these fleeting growing up years. It’s been interesting to see how kids learn, and how we parents learn too from them during the process – here’s a few observations: 

1. Learning is rooted in real life and the everyday

Everyday life offers many opportunities to teach kids real skills, and they seem to enjoy being part of “grown-up stuff”. As I learnt from the kids, home is the best place to start. 

They’re learning fine motor skills when you get them involved with peeling garlic (tiny little fingers are great for that). They’re learning how appliances work when they are empowered to operate them at home (with guidance of course). For example, operating the washing machine, the coffee machine, while explaining to them how it works – somehow the mere act of pressing buttons seems to excite kids. They’re learning what goes into a meal when you involve them in the cooking process. They’re learning when they help to set the table at mealtime or when they help to fold the laundry. They’re learning about recycling when they help to sort out the plastic and paper trash. They’re learning how to keep the house clean when they sweep the floor and see how much dust gets collected.

The lockdown in Austria happened towards the end of winter and the beginning of spring. There was a lot of work to be done in the garden (raking of leaves, planting of seeds, repotting of plants, watering of plants), all of which I learned, can be turned into interesting and fun activities for the kids. It might not be text-book stuff but doing real things and learning with their hands provides them with a valuable and authentic learning experience, right here in the context of home.

2. Letting curiosity lead, and learning to listen to the small stuff

At the beginning of the lockdown, I had in mind some sort of a schedule which went out of the window by the end of the second week… and none of us (adults and kids) really minded. Instead, we settled into a loose rhythm where there’s a time to eat together, to have a joint activity together (outdoor or indoor) and time for the adults and kids to have their own work-time/play-time/me-time. It was not very structured and was also rather weather/mood/work dependent, but it all came together somehow.

There was a period when the kids got really fascinated with our laptops. They wanted to know all about how computers work and were curious about this fun thing called the internet where they can watch their Paw Patrol cartoons. I recalled a wonderful online resource called Hello Ruby by Linda Liukas (who is also a friend of Saturday Kids), where kids can learn about computers, programming and technology through offline art and craft hands-on activities. One day the kids were building their own paper Apple laptops, and the next, making and designing/colouring their own keyboards. I don’t have all the answers to their endless questions but it’s great to be able to tap on all the rich multimedia resources available out there whether it’s online (YouTube, podcasts) or offline and be able to learn alongside them.

Kids around 4 years of age seem to be asking a million questions everyday, which is a great reflection of a child’s imagination and their unfiltered curiosity of the world around them. There is this quote that I really like:

“If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they (kids) are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them, all of it has always been big stuff”.

I think the same goes for listening and addressing all the small and big questions kids have, which is so important for keeping their curiosity and love for learning alive.

3. Trust goes a long way

We’ve been spending a lot of time in the garden tending to the vegetable patch (with the help with their grandparents who taught us a lot about growing our own vegetables and fruits). I observed how even little kids were given real tools to work with and responsibilities to undertake, while being made aware of the risks. Our neighbour handed them a full-size hammer and a nutcracker while teaching them how to crack walnuts. In the kitchen (and in their kindergarten previously), I noticed how little kids were trusted to handle and use glass cups, and porcelain plates.

I remember seeing this in action as well at the Saturday Kids Unplugged Summer Camp in Karuizawa last year too where kids were given real woodworking tools to work with. With proper guidance, it gives kids immense satisfaction and pride to know that they have been given the responsibility and trust to deal with real tools, and that they can manage them independently.

At the time of writing this, lockdown measures have eased in Austria. As the same happens across the world, life will not go back to normal as we know it. But perhaps that’s okay and in a way it might be for the better, because our old normal was not really a sustainable way of living. As tiring as most days might be, I think I’ll be nostalgic for this period when it all passes.

For all the disruption that Covid-19 has brought, I think it’s also important to remember how unique a time this is for families, the bonds and experiences that were shared during this messy but strangely beautiful period, and to think about the stories we will tell our kids in future.

. . .

Nicole is a digital marketer and photographer now based in Austria with her family. You can see more of her work and get in touch here on her site.

The post Saturday Kids “Travels”: Learning through Living in Austria appeared first on Saturday Kids | Coding, Digital Literacy for Kids & Parents.

Earlier this year, not without a lot of excitement, legwork, and a little bit of pomp and circumstance that involved Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, we announced the next ambitious phase of our social mission: to bring free coding classes to 6700 kids from disadvantaged backgrounds in Singapore over the next three years.

Like almost everyone, we had no idea what the rest of 2020 would have in store. But soon a little virus called COVID-19 would make us realise how challenging and how important it would be that we pursue that mission.

In late January, our team burned our weekends and spent too many long nights in our office prepping equipment (cutting Strawbees to size, calibrating Quirkbots, labelling laptops… you get the idea) and training hundreds of volunteers in our creative coding curriculum and classroom management skills.

No spoiler alert needed: you can guess what happened next.

As COVID-19 crept into our communities, the first, and then the second of what was meant to be four runs of Code in the Community got suspended, indefinitely. Laptops and hardware that had been distributed to libraries and community centres across Singapore slowly made their way back to our office, and we shared our disappointment with hundreds of students, their parents, and our tribe of volunteers.

So, 3 months on and with no foreseeable end to restrictions on our in-person classes in sight, what’s next?

Well, COVID-19 has made it clear that:

1. More than ever, digital literacy is essential for kids to continue learning and connecting with the wider world
2. As the inequality divide is even more acute during this time of crisis, tech is a double-edged sword with the potential to both widen, and plug the gaps in digital access and opportunity.

In sum: while it would be incredibly difficult to move CITC classes online, we owed it to the kids to make it work.

So, fast forward to May.

We’ve redesigned our curriculum to go online, run trial classes in Scratch and Python, and re-trained a small batch of our incredible volunteer instructors to deliver classes online.

This weekend, we’re piloting our first run of Code in the Community Online classes with a small batch of just 80 kids (4 to a class), and we can’t wait.

While no one knows what the immediate future will look like, we do know this: it will involve physical distancing, a lot of caution, and tech to pull it all together.

Our student waitlists are long, and more than ever, the need is clear. If you love kids, have an interest in tech, and want to help kids from disadvantaged backgrounds tap on their innate curiosity to realise their potential, we could definitely use your help.

The next run of Code in the Community will be from July 11 to Sept 6, and we’re looking for volunteers with/without programming experience to commit 2 hours a week to teach kids from disadvantaged backgrounds to code using Scratch or Python. Curriculum and training will be provided by the Rocket Launchers from Saturday Kids, and all classes will be held online. Find out more and sign up here!

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Well, it’s not as crazy as it sounds, and I do get stuff done. Here’s how…

Keeping to some sort of a schedule.

While I don’t have a certain time to be out of the house by, I still wake up around 730 every morning, start the day learning Japanese and reading the papers.

By around 830 or 9 I’m at my desk -i.e. my dining table – working. It’s nice to be able to have breakfast with all five kids every morning – something we rarely ever got to do because the older ones take the school bus at 530am, and on weekends the kids’ activities start early.

My wonder woman wife.

My wife, for the most part, deals with the kids’ home-based learning (while working a full-time job as legal counsel – superwoman she is!), so I’m able to get in a couple of hours of work in the morning.

Letting go of unrealistic expectations and going with the flow.

I expect to be interrupted by one or more of the kids experiencing technical difficulties with Zoom, needing help with math, and so on. Working from home with kids around requires one to go with the flow. It’s just not realistic to expect to have hours of uninterrupted, focussed work, or to have a quiet environment conducive for calls. Obviously, it can get noisy with five kids around. 

Making the most of time with the kids.

Quinn, the youngest of my five, is 18 months old. Kids are super fun at this age, so one of the nice things about working from home is that there’s entertainment whenever I need to stop staring at a screen. The same goes for Sienna, Cory, Summer and Camper. They are fun to be around, so I’m making the most of this enforced stay-at-home-order.

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, I was traveling every month. For me, it’s been a luxury to be home for a prolonged period. With these newfound hours, my wife and I got the kids to launch a fundraising campaign to raise money for disadvantaged Singaporeans affected by the Corona Virus.

It’s a nice little family project, helps the kids learn empathy and hustle, and most importantly, benefits disadvantaged communities. Solidarity Gift for SG Livelihoods Fund by Camper, Summer, Cory, Sienna, Quinn has so far raised $7,770 out of a target of $12,000. With some hustle from the kids, hopefully they’ll reach their fundraising target.

Another routine with the kids is an evening workout – it’s something to look forward to at the end of the work day, helps the kids expend energy, and it’s great bonding time too.

Aside from the Nike Training App, my wife and I, together with the boys, have also joined in Summer’s and Sienna’s hiphop dance class by following the routine on TV. Other fun stuff we’ve done with the kids in the last couple of weeks include baking cookies and brownies, and making home-made jelly hearts.

. . .

So I’m stuck in the house with 5 kids. There’s room for them to run around and play with each other. Our helpers take good care of them. The fridge is full. If your home situation is somewhat like ours, there really is nothing to complain about. There are many others who are less fortunate. Let’s just count our blessings, extend a helping hand to the less fortunate wherever we can, and be grateful for this extra family time.    

The post A Dad of Five Works From Home: Big Kid John counts his blessings appeared first on Saturday Kids | Coding, Digital Literacy for Kids & Parents.

When we first interviewed Joshua (introduced by way of former gap year intern Sandra) back in February, we knew that he was a hungry, self-motivated learner. But what we didn’t expect was the curveballs that COVID-19 would throw at us, and what he would take upon himself to learn in the process. Here, he shares what it’s like to intern during a global crisis, and his takeaways from from working and learning in a time like this.

Unexpected lessons from interning during a global crisis

My first priority in university was completing a meaningful internship. As an aspiring entrepreneur, I was excited about the opportunity to dive into actual campaigns and understanding how marketeers’ minds work. And so, as a young and curious university student, eager for a taste of the real world, I took my first step with Saturday Kids.

Since I began my internship in March, it’s been eye-opening – not least because recent escalations have placed an interesting twist on work at Saturday Kids.

“Our consumers’ needs and preferences are evolving almost completely, and so is the business landscape.”

There’s no shortage of news discussing the implications of an economic downturn. And though I’ve learned about what that means in school, experiencing it at the workplace is a whole other ballgame. Along with the uncertainty of how things will unfold, the curious side of me is excited to see how companies will navigate this situation.

Being an intern at such a time as this teaches me so much more about business; there’s always something new to learn everyday, or a new angle of looking at things.

While these times are challenging for everyone, this evolving climate presents an opportunity for learning and insights, like these:

1. Growing to be more self-reliant and dependable
   

   As someone who’s most productive working in offices or cafes, working from home was something I had to learn to adapt to. Distractions are plenty at home, but what kept me grounded was the will to learn and improve as much as I can so that I can give back and offer valuable contributions to the team.

2. Managing independence and communication
   

   Working apart from my colleagues was a little intimidating in the beginning. Having your peers around in the office gives you a sense of security – you can always conveniently check with them for direction and gather feedback promptly.

   

   While online communication tools like Slack still allow that, this new (for me) working dynamic encourages me to be extra independent and resourceful with work.

3. Getting comfortable with ambiguity
   

   At a startup like Saturday Kids, there’s not much hand-holding, and often, a part of me feels unsure of how to begin going about my work when given a new task. Yet, a larger part of me feels it is this setting that will build me up to better contribute to the workplace and the world in the future. Great personal development only comes outside of your comfort zone after all.

To anyone who interning at this time or about to embark on their first internship, here’s my advice:

Take this time as an opportunity to build yourself up. There is so much you can takeaway from virtual meetings or casual discussions with your colleagues. 

Most companies are switching things up in some aspect or another to adapt to the situation so there’s always something new to learn every day. 

Moreover, remember that every hurdle you face on your internship is an opportunity to not only become better and stronger at your craft, but to cultivate your outlook in life too. It more than just completing tasks, it’s about building character.

. . .

Joshua Simon is currently a digital marketing intern at Saturday Kids, a student at the University of Birmingham, a fitness junkie and aspiring entrepreneur!

Do you have feedback on this post or insights from your own experience to share? We’d love to hear from you.

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