I recently became aware of a movement called "Making," started in 2005 by Dale Dougherty, which brings together inventors, tinkerers, artists, musicians, techies, crafters, scientists, and many more, all focused on the joy of creating. 

I happened across an issue of Make: magazine from May 2014 and was blown away by an article called "What sticks about play and bricks - Every child is a natural-born maker" by Steve Davee. What drew me to this article was the description of a group of children playing with bricks in a back yard. These children not only learned about brick building, architecture, the scientific process, and physics, but also about problem-solving, communication, cooperation, and socializing - all without the interference or influence of the adults observing from afar! In one afternoon they learned valuable life lessons while having fun.

I worry that in this world of handheld electronic devices, fear of dirt, and pre-set Lego kits, we aren't getting a chance to really explore our creativity and learn from doing the way past generations did. I often see nostalgia-filled Facebook posts and articles about "back in the day" when you would be outside all day, skinning knees, playing in ponds, or exploring life with nothing but your friends and your imagination. I hear parents talk about kids being over-scheduled with activities, or kids believing that having a thriving social media account is the same as having friends you can count on IRL (In Real Life). Finally, as a parent, I understand the powerful drive to protect your child and keep them safe. But I also wonder about what our children may be missing out on.

I'm not suggesting that life was actually better or worse "back in the day." I'm simply mirroring some of the complaints I've heard. As with everything else in life, there is no clear right or wrong, no black or white answer, and all of you will have different opinions about how to raise your child, as you should. I'm not pretending to be a parenting "expert," but I wanted to introduce you to this Maker Movement as a fun and educational way to explore the world again - for yourself or with your child. 

The movement even got recent attention from the White House: President Obama declared June 18th 2014 a National Day of Making, and hosted a Mini Maker Faire at the White House. To be a fly on that wall! You can see his proclamation here, or see photos and more information about the event here.

In summary, these sound like amazing opportunities for children (and adults) to tap into their creative sides and learn much about life - be it science, technology, biology, psychology, or even success, failure, frustration-tolerance, and joy. Check out the magazine, the free Maker Camps for kids, the worldwide spread of the Maker Faires, and the efforts the Maker group is putting into getting these concepts introduced into the school system. Now, I'm going to see if there's a Maker Faire anywhere around here!