Personal Robots for Your Kids
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008What a great idea for a project with your kids, and a neat use for all that molded polystyrene from your latest electronics purchases! Build a cool and crazy robot with your child. Let him/her exercise their imagination and learn a bit about form and shape at the same time.
Their creator, Michael A Salter, makes them a tad big, but you can make’em kid-size. See more examples at Michael’s site.
Discuss it with your child, then you can cut the foam with a kitchen knife or fine-tooth saw. Glue the pieces together with clear or white silicone sealant or acrylic caulk, or make movable joints using lengths of 1/4 inch dowels. Let your child paint the final robot with acrylic paints, or glue on paper, inkjet prints, or fabric from worn out clothing. Add other materials to it.
Let it air outside for a few days to dissipate the caulk solvents. Light as they are, they can safely be hung from the wall or ceiling of your kid’s room.