There is no doubt that playing around with drones is great fun. As children’s toys go, however, drones can be relatively expensive to buy. Therefore it is important for parents to learn more about this tech to decide if drones are worth the money to buy for their kids. Are you a mom or dad with a child wishing for a drone? Then here’s what you need to know.
THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE DRONES
Probably the most obvious point of comparison to drones is remote-controlled vehicles some of which can fly. These are not, however, as robust as decent drones so their range is more limited. They also tend to need better weather to work effectively. Also, rc toys tend not to have cameras. This is a major limitation compared to drones.
Remember that smaller drones tend to have shorter flight times due to their smaller batteries. That said, they also tend to have shorter charging times, again, also due to their smaller batteries. Then take a closer look at the components, particularly the batteries. Find out how easy it is to replace them. This means both in terms the ease of getting the parts and the compatibility of the available parts to your drone. Make sure to see how much replacement parts cost too because kids crash drones so your initial purchase price isn't going to be your only expense if you want to get long term use out of the drone you select.
Technology isn't a luxury for today' children. They are going to be spending their entire lives utilizing technology in their everyday life that previous generation would have considered sci fi fantasies. It’s therefore vital that modern kids get comfortable with tech from an early age. In the real world, technology means a lot more than devices with screens, like smartphones, tablets, and, of course, computers. It increasingly means autonomous devices and robotics.
Drones can therefore provide a great way to learn about using different types of technology in a fun and entertaining way. They can also provide a much more “hands-on” experience than other forms of tech. For example, smartphones, tablets, and laptops are all, essentially sealed units. They do what other people design and program them to do. Drones, by contrast, can be taken apart, rebuilt, and programmed.
DRONES AND STEM
Possibly the most obvious educational purpose of drones is helping to teach STEM subjects, particularly math, physics, and coding. The great benefit of using drones as an educational tool for these subjects is that they can help to bridge the connection between theory and practice. This can help make STEM subjects relevant to kids and hence both more interesting and easier to grasp.
For example, you could teach subjects such as physics with the help of videos. This is likely to be a whole lot more engaging than just listening to a teacher explaining academic points. With a drone, however, children can actually explore physics principles by flying a drone and observe first-hand why their science lessons are important.
Exploring drones mobility can also be tied to learning about math. For example, drones can turn lessons in geometry and trigonometry into into real-world uses rather than just seeing these topics as homework problems. This can give children a much clearer understanding of the role math plays in the everyday world.
DRONES AND CREATIVITY
On the flip side of the coin, drones are also great for sparking creativity. Drones can’t take you up in the air the way helicopters can. They are, however, able to deliver a large part of the experience of flight in a very flexible and economical way. This opens up all kinds of options for exploring, including accessing places it might not otherwise be safe to view or visit.
Flying drones can therefore provide all kinds of inspiration for creative endeavors such as storytelling, art, and even music. They can also bring a whole new dimension to playtime, especially outdoor playtime. Technology has brought all kinds of benefits to society in general and children in particular. It has, however, also encouraged the development of sedentary lifestyles.
Encouraging children to participate in sports is one way to counterbalance this. In reality, however, not all children are interested in sports. What’s more, as children get older, they can find sports teams (and even schools) pushing them towards competitions and this may not appeal to them. Flying drones can be a great way to get children outdoors, participating in an activity and having fun.
DRONES AND MOTOR SKILLS
Honing fine motor skills are crucial life lessons that are often overlooked with our youth. One of the reasons why it can be so hard for children to develop fine motor skills is that they take both focus and practice. Which is difficult to do if you’re bored with an activity. Drones keep children engaged while challenging them to push their boundaries safely. In blunt terms, the worst that can happen is that children crash the drone.
Flying a drone requires children to concentrate so they can process the necessary information to control its flight. They then need to convert this knowledge into instructions passed through their hands. As a result, they improve their perception of depth, their hand-eye coordination, and their ability to adapt to changing conditions.
DRONES AND SOFT SKILLS
Learning soft skills is vital children to develop into productive adults. Whether as a freelancer/entrepreneur or as an employee, soft skills are a key aspect of being successful in the work force. As with all skills, the earlier your children start learning them, the longer they have to perfect them.
Flying a drone can be done alone. Parents and educators can, however, up the stakes by setting challenges that are easier and quicker to complete in teams. This gives children an early taste of the project work that is almost certainly going to become a fact of life for them in their later years.
In fact, drones can even be used as part of formal educational projects. This is particularly viable towards the latter end of high school and in tertiary education. What’s more, even if drones aren’t the focus of a project, they can also be a useful tool for its completion.
DRONES COMPARED TO OTHER TOYS
It’s clear that drones have all kinds of educational benefits. It does, however, need to be acknowledged that there are plenty of other educational toys on the market too. Drones, therefore, need to be assessed in comparison with other alternatives.
Probably the most obvious point of comparison to drones is remote-controlled vehicles some of which can fly. These are not, however, as robust as decent drones so their range is more limited. They also tend to need better weather to work effectively. Also, rc toys tend not to have cameras. This is a major limitation compared to drones.
There are plenty of toys that do some of what drones do. For example, LEGO is great for both developing construction skills and fostering creativity. There are also “semi-toys” like science kits (and Raspberry Pis) that make learning fun. Many of these can deliver great value. None of them, however, offer the same range of educational benefits as drones.
CHOOSING A DRONE FOR YOUR CHILD
While drones were originally made for adults there now are a variety of them made with children in mind. Some of these actually can be very cheaply priced. This does not necessarily make them great value. In fact, it’s generally best to pay a bit extra upfront to get better all-around quality.
The first point you should check is whether or not the drone has a camera. Most do but some are essentially just highly advanced RC helicopters. Once you’ve established this check the overall build quality, flying time, speed, range, and charging time. Then check the controller. It needs to be easy for young hands to work.
Remember that smaller drones tend to have shorter flight times due to their smaller batteries. That said, they also tend to have shorter charging times, again, also due to their smaller batteries. Then take a closer look at the components, particularly the batteries. Find out how easy it is to replace them. This means both in terms the ease of getting the parts and the compatibility of the available parts to your drone. Make sure to see how much replacement parts cost too because kids crash drones so your initial purchase price isn't going to be your only expense if you want to get long term use out of the drone you select.
Happy flying!
