Science & Craft
Our kids are growing up in a new age, in a kind of reality we only dreamt about when we were young or speculated about through watching movies like Back to the Future. They have access to knowledge at their fingertips, manned drones, Virtual Reality partners, virtual voice assistants and humanoids taking over the jobs our backward education systems long prepared them (and us) for. As a parent, I for one am very worried about what life will be like for them in twenty years.
We can already see the effects of too much irresponsible technology use and the perils it brings – everything from depression to PTSD, antisocial behaviour and mobile addiction- things young children never even heard of before!
We need to teach them how to use technology responsibly. Many kids get a kick out of abusing Siri and Alexa. They think that it is funny to ask silly questions and even swear at them, because of the crazy responses they give. There is a fine line between technological beings and human beings, especially from a child’s perspective. Our ability to differentiate between the real and the virtual is getting worse as technology improves.
People argue that it is okay to treat humanoids and virtual beings in any way we feel like, even turning them into our slaves because they do not feel anything and that they do not have rights. The problem with this argument, is that it is not about robot rights, it is about the habits that we are building in real humans.
When we constantly reinforce a negative behaviour, like being rude or subjugating any other being, we become what we do. Our kids are becoming rude, obnoxious bullies because they think they can behave any way they please with technology – and other beings. It is important to show them how to use technology, in its many forms, in a responsible way.
Knowsy Nina is great for doing just that!
Features
This is an interesting series aimed at teaching kids little things about science and technology; and about seeking knowledge about the world around them. It’s all about a little girl who uses technology to learn about things that she is curious about.
This wonderfully illustrated, bright and sunny, feel-good little cartoon is good for helping kids learn about how to interact with technology and use it responsibly.
Spend some time with Nina and learn how to be curious and ask questions about the world around you.
Characters
Knowsy Nina is a little girl with a big, curious mind, who lives in a little house and she is incredibly inquisitive and imaginative.
She is very tech-savvy and writes in her daily blog, sharing what she learnt each day.
Smarty Pants is Nina’s pet rabbit and helps her investigate things he has no clue about.
Mr Voice is Nina’s virtual voice assistant. He answers all Nina and Smarty Pants’ questions through the knowledge path. He tells stories of how things happen and explains it in an easy, child-friendly way. He can explain anything, like how plants grow, why we should save electricity and why it rains.
Recommendations
Learn with Knowsy Nina, Smarty Pants and Mr Voice about to be curious, learn about science, technology and nature; and find answers questions about life and the things around us.
The series Introduces us to the knowledge path, which is in Islam means seeking knowledge from the cradle to the grave. It helps kids learn to be more curious and use technology to extend their own learning opportunities.
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.”
Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 224
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
224 سنن ابن ماجه كتاب المقدمة باب فضل العلماء والحث على طلب العلم
3914 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في صحيح الجامع
Tips & Tricks
- Once you get your kids hooked onto these episodes, introduce the tablet or mobile phone in your home as a ‘knowledge pad’, or your own Mr Voice.
- Let them know that technology is not just for games and entertainment or hours and hours of mindless drivel. Help them ask questions using Google search and find videos and images to explain simple things to them.
- Be careful to supervise them and use safe-search.
- Teach your kids to be like Knowsy Nina and ask questions. It’s important for kids to know that it is okay to ask questions and nobody knows everything.
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