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It’s always a good time to start a new hobby or return to a long-neglected one. There are a lot of great nerdy hobbies out there, but not every nerd hobby fits every kid. For example, it transpires that my 11-year-old does not enjoy meticulously re-touching the paint on Warhammer 40K miniatures. (I know, I was surprised too.) Here is a list of hobbies that your whole family can get into, sorted by age. As always, you know your kids better than I do. If there’s an activity in the middle school section that you think would be great for your early elementary-aged kid, there’s no rule that says you can’t enjoy it together!
Preschool and Early Elementary School (Ages 4-7)
Perler Beads
What is it?
Perler Beads, or Fuse Beads, are tiny plastic beads that kids can arrange on pegboards to form an image. Once all the beads are arranged on the pegboard, you iron the beads to fuse them together, making toys or decorations that look like sprites from 8-bit video games. You can follow a pattern, or freestyle it and make your own pattern. As long as there’s an adult wielding the iron, little kids can totally handle this craft. My daughter started with Perler Bead projects in preschool and has been doing them independently for years now.
What Do You Need to Start?
- Some Perler Beads.
This LaBan Fuse Bead starter kit includes all the bits that you’ll need: pegboards, beads, parchment paper for ironing, and a pattern book.
2. An iron.
If you don’t already have one, the Maytag M400 Steam Iron got the top rating from the New York Times Wirecutter website. Make sure not to use steam on Perler Bead projects as that will cause total protonic reversal and ruin your project.
As you get further into Perler Beads, you may want to get larger, interlocking pegboards and additional pattern books. There are lots of different pattern books available: we’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of the Nature Patterns and Harry Potter pattern books. Not a Harry Potter fan? No problem, check out this Avengers pattern book. There is also a near-infinite variety of Perler Bead patterns available for free on Pinterest.
How Can Parents Participate?
At first, with preschool-age kids, you’ll want to help them put the beads on the pegboard. You can use special Perler Bead tweezers if you want, but they’re not essential. Putting Perler Beads on a pegboard is very meditative. It can lead to conversations with your kids that roam beyond whatever animal or Harry Potter character you’re making.
Resources
Beginners Guide to Perler Beads is a good jumping-in point. Kandipatterns.com has thousands of Perler Bead patterns available for free download, as well as a pattern maker. All our favorite franchises are well represented: Star Wars, Pokemon, Marvel, and so on.
Board Games
What is it?
At the risk of stating the obvious, board games are pre-packaged games that include a board, dice, cards, and other game pieces. Players follow a set of rules to pursue an objective like being the first player to move their piece across a finish line. There are lots of board games that are fun for early elementary-aged kids, especially cooperative where players work together as a team.
What Do You Need to Start?
Well, you’ll need a board game, and there are a lot to choose from. You can go with a classic like Scrabble Jr., or go with something a little nerdier like Catan Jr. My Nerdy With Children colleagues have written about fantasy-themed and superhero-themed board games that are great for kids.
How Can You Participate?
You can participate by playing board games with your kids. Playing a simple board game with little kids is not always fun for you, but A) It’s fun for them and B) You’re making a long-term investment in your relationship. Board games are also a great outlet for creativity. It won’t take many games before your kids will want to make a game of their own. A few Amazon boxes and some magic markers can ignite a lifelong interest in making things.
Resources
BoardGameGeek describes and reviews a huge library of board games. It’s a good idea to do a little research before you buy a board game, because man, they are not cheap. If you’re patient and flexible, Craig’s List and garage sales can help you get started playing board games with your kids without having to sell a kidney.
Elementary School (Ages 8-11)
Drawing
What is it?
Again at the risk of stating the obvious, drawing is capturing an image on paper or on a screen using tools like pencils, ink, magic markers, or a computer.
What Do You Need to Start?
All you really need are something to draw on, like a sketchbook, and something to draw with, like colored pencils, markers or regular pencils. It also might help to have a book about how to draw. There’s a vast selection available- there are books about how to draw dinosaurs, chibi characters, superheroes and anything else your kids might conceivably be interested in. Drawing is one of the most budget-friendly hobbies. Armed with a book about how to draw from the library, you should be able to get started with materials you already have.
How Can You Participate?
By getting some lines down on paper! The best way to participate in your kids’ drawing hobby is to draw with them. Like Perler Beads, drawing can be very meditative. Don’t worry about the fact that your drawings don’t look like Jim Lee’s. Picasso said that every artist has 10,000 bad drawings in them, and that the sooner you grind through the bad drawings, the sooner you can get to the good ones.
Resources:
There is a wealth of resources available for people who are learning to draw. There are classes for all ages and ability levels available through community colleges, art supply stores and other services like the Art for Kids hub on YouTube.
Middle School (Ages 12+)
Hiking
What is it?
Hiking is walking around in a wild environment until you find a good place to have a snack. There’s really no need to overthink it beyond that.
What Do You Need to Start?
Hiking is easy to understand, but you can also get yourself into serious trouble with it if you don’t know what you are doing. I learned how to conduct myself outdoors from my father and from Boy Scouts, but if those resources aren’t a good fit for you, you can learn what you need to get started from Colin Fletcher’s The Complete Walker. Although the specific brands he recommends are out of date, he knows what you need to live outside. For a day hike with elementary age children you’ll need:
- A day pack to carry your stuff in. Kelty makes good ones, including a nice one for kids.
- At least two quarts of water for every person. Nalgene makes excellent water bottles that will last a lifetime. Camelbak makes flexible water containers that you can put in your pack and drink from with a tube.
- Comfortable, sturdy shoes.
- Clothes that fit the weather.
- A map of wherever you are hiking.
- Snacks.
- Sunscreen.
How Can You Participate?
By putting one foot in front of the other. By learning about the history and nature of the area you’re hiking in. By cultivating outdoor skills with books like Be Expert With Map and Compass. By modeling a stoic attitude to minor physical discomfort and preparedness for challenges like changes in the weather. Elementary school aged kids will see the effort that you’re making and chances are they’ll want to put in the work too.
Resources:
Recreation.gov is a great portal for finding places to hike, like state parks. REI offers classes in basic outdoor skills. The American Hiking Society also has a great Hiking With Kids page.
The post Hobbies for Your Kids That Your Family Will Love appeared first on Nerdy With Children.
It’s always a good time to start a new hobby or return to a long-neglected one. There are a lot of great nerdy hobbies out there, but not every nerd hobby fits every kid. For example, it transpires that my 11-year-old does not enjoy meticulously re-touching the paint on Warhammer 40K miniatures. (I know, I was surprised too.) Here is a list of hobbies that your whole family can get into, sorted by age. As always, you know your kids better than I do. If there’s an activity in the middle school section that you think would be great for your early elementary-aged kid, there’s no rule that says you can’t enjoy it together!
Preschool and Early Elementary School (Ages 4-7)
Perler Beads
What is it?
Perler Beads, or Fuse Beads, are tiny plastic beads that kids can arrange on pegboards to form an image. Once all the beads are arranged on the pegboard, you iron the beads to fuse them together, making toys or decorations that look like sprites from 8-bit video games. You can follow a pattern, or freestyle it and make your own pattern. As long as there’s an adult wielding the iron, little kids can totally handle this craft. My daughter started with Perler Bead projects in preschool and has been doing them independently for years now.
What Do You Need to Start?
- Some Perler Beads.
This LaBan Fuse Bead starter kit includes all the bits that you’ll need: pegboards, beads, parchment paper for ironing, and a pattern book.
2. An iron.
If you don’t already have one, the Maytag M400 Steam Iron got the top rating from the New York Times Wirecutter website. Make sure not to use steam on Perler Bead projects as that will cause total protonic reversal and ruin your project.
As you get further into Perler Beads, you may want to get larger, interlocking pegboards and additional pattern books. There are lots of different pattern books available: we’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of the Nature Patterns and Harry Potter pattern books. Not a Harry Potter fan? No problem, check out this Avengers pattern book. There is also a near-infinite variety of Perler Bead patterns available for free on Pinterest.
How Can Parents Participate?
At first, with preschool-age kids, you’ll want to help them put the beads on the pegboard. You can use special Perler Bead tweezers if you want, but they’re not essential. Putting Perler Beads on a pegboard is very meditative. It can lead to conversations with your kids that roam beyond whatever animal or Harry Potter character you’re making.
Resources
Beginners Guide to Perler Beads is a good jumping-in point. Kandipatterns.com has thousands of Perler Bead patterns available for free download, as well as a pattern maker. All our favorite franchises are well represented: Star Wars, Pokemon, Marvel, and so on.
Board Games
What is it?
At the risk of stating the obvious, board games are pre-packaged games that include a board, dice, cards, and other game pieces. Players follow a set of rules to pursue an objective like being the first player to move their piece across a finish line. There are lots of board games that are fun for early elementary-aged kids, especially cooperative where players work together as a team.
What Do You Need to Start?
Well, you’ll need a board game, and there are a lot to choose from. You can go with a classic like Scrabble Jr., or go with something a little nerdier like Catan Jr. My Nerdy With Children colleagues have written about fantasy-themed and superhero-themed board games that are great for kids.
How Can You Participate?
You can participate by playing board games with your kids. Playing a simple board game with little kids is not always fun for you, but A) It’s fun for them and B) You’re making a long-term investment in your relationship. Board games are also a great outlet for creativity. It won’t take many games before your kids will want to make a game of their own. A few Amazon boxes and some magic markers can ignite a lifelong interest in making things.
Resources
BoardGameGeek describes and reviews a huge library of board games. It’s a good idea to do a little research before you buy a board game, because man, they are not cheap. If you’re patient and flexible, Craig’s List and garage sales can help you get started playing board games with your kids without having to sell a kidney.
Elementary School (Ages 8-11)
Drawing
What is it?
Again at the risk of stating the obvious, drawing is capturing an image on paper or on a screen using tools like pencils, ink, magic markers, or a computer.
What Do You Need to Start?
All you really need are something to draw on, like a sketchbook, and something to draw with, like colored pencils, markers or regular pencils. It also might help to have a book about how to draw. There’s a vast selection available- there are books about how to draw dinosaurs, chibi characters, superheroes and anything else your kids might conceivably be interested in. Drawing is one of the most budget-friendly hobbies. Armed with a book about how to draw from the library, you should be able to get started with materials you already have.
How Can You Participate?
By getting some lines down on paper! The best way to participate in your kids’ drawing hobby is to draw with them. Like Perler Beads, drawing can be very meditative. Don’t worry about the fact that your drawings don’t look like Jim Lee’s. Picasso said that every artist has 10,000 bad drawings in them, and that the sooner you grind through the bad drawings, the sooner you can get to the good ones.
Resources:
There is a wealth of resources available for people who are learning to draw. There are classes for all ages and ability levels available through community colleges, art supply stores and other services like the Art for Kids hub on YouTube.
Middle School (Ages 12+)
Hiking
What is it?
Hiking is walking around in a wild environment until you find a good place to have a snack. There’s really no need to overthink it beyond that.
What Do You Need to Start?
Hiking is easy to understand, but you can also get yourself into serious trouble with it if you don’t know what you are doing. I learned how to conduct myself outdoors from my father and from Boy Scouts, but if those resources aren’t a good fit for you, you can learn what you need to get started from Colin Fletcher’s The Complete Walker. Although the specific brands he recommends are out of date, he knows what you need to live outside. For a day hike with elementary age children you’ll need:
- A day pack to carry your stuff in. Kelty makes good ones, including a nice one for kids.
- At least two quarts of water for every person. Nalgene makes excellent water bottles that will last a lifetime. Camelbak makes flexible water containers that you can put in your pack and drink from with a tube.
- Comfortable, sturdy shoes.
- Clothes that fit the weather.
- A map of wherever you are hiking.
- Snacks.
- Sunscreen.
How Can You Participate?
By putting one foot in front of the other. By learning about the history and nature of the area you’re hiking in. By cultivating outdoor skills with books like Be Expert With Map and Compass. By modeling a stoic attitude to minor physical discomfort and preparedness for challenges like changes in the weather. Elementary school aged kids will see the effort that you’re making and chances are they’ll want to put in the work too.
Resources:
Recreation.gov is a great portal for finding places to hike, like state parks. REI offers classes in basic outdoor skills. The American Hiking Society also has a great Hiking With Kids page.
The post Hobbies for Your Kids That Your Family Will Love appeared first on Nerdy With Children.
Time to be terse, people! Check out the latest edition of Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review broadcast airing every Wednesday at 8 p.m. eastern on BTalk 100. Listen to your favored AFROnerdist hosts bring their own special brand of analyses to the following issues: the growing popularity of the Latin centric HBO Max musical, In the Heights isn't stopping many critics from noticing a dearth of Afro-Latin representation in the film; and speaking of HBO Max, it appears the removal of a very intimate scene between Batman and Catwoman in the upcoming third season of Harley Quinn' has fans titillated and rattled at the same time; thankfully, Tyler Perry Studios is not the only black-owned movie production company in town.....enter BLP Film Studios located in Memphis, TN;
The historical "well" known as Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 just got deeper with the recent announcement that the tragic event will now be an M.B.A. Case Study at Harvard (but what about HBCUs?); our thoughts about the S2 Stargirl trailer that dropped on the cyberwebs; is actor/singer, Tyrese Gibson wrong for asserting that the forthcoming Sony Morbius film is set in the MCU?; a ScreenRant.com piece provides greater insight into the Milestone Static Shock reboot by writer, Vita Ayala, and illustrator, ChrisCross; And lastly, we discuss and wax about an article written by frequent guest, Sergio Mims, noted Chicago cinephile and film historian. Sergio's RogerEbert.com piece places a societal and racialized microscope on the John Ford Western classic, Sergeant Rutledge (1960), starring Woody Strode and Jeffrey Hunter.
Call us LIVE at 508-645-0100. AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!!
or This link below.....
Also, Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via BTalk 100 Pandora, Spotify and, IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!
Titan Comics announce their convention exclusives and panels for Comic-Con@Home 2021, scroll down for all the details!
Convention Exclusives:
Horizon Zero Dawn: Liberation #1 Limited Edition Convention Special
Price $10
This Limited Edition Convention Special features an exclusive, collectable sketch cover by superstar artist Peach Momoko!
(Limited to 1000 copies)
Taking place during the events of the original game, this new arc explores the never-before-told adventures of Aloy and her fan-favourite sidekick Erend as they hunt for a killer with links to his past…
Horizon Zero Dawn: Liberation #1 Limited Edition Convention Special
Writers: Ben McCaw, Anne Toole
Artist: Elmer Damaso
FC, 32pp, On sale July 28, 2021
Horizon Zero Dawn: Liberation #1 Limited Edition Convention Special is available to purchase from July 23 from AnotherUniverse.co in the USA & CAN and ForbiddenPlanet.com/sdcc2021/ in the UK and Europe.
ExtraOrdinary Convention Exclusive Edition HC
Price $24.99 (preorder)
This Exclusive Convention Edition includes a special variant cover with gold metallic ink and a signed tip-in sheet by V. E. Schwab!
(Limited to 500 copies)
#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, launches her incredible world of super beings with this ALL-NEW dazzlingly illustrated graphic novel set in the five years between Vicious and Vengeful. A must for all Schwab fans everywhere!
Taking place in the years between VICIOUS and VENGEFUL, ExtraOrdinary follows the tale of a teenage girl named Charlotte Tills who following a fatal bus crash, seemingly dies only to wake up to discover she has become an EO — a person with ExtraOrdinary abilities. In Charlotte’s case, it’s the ability to see people’s deaths, but when she looks into her own future, she only sees her own murder at the hands of the self-proclaimed hero and notorious EO killer Eli Ever, who is currently in prison for the murder of Victor Vale. Refusing to accept her fate, Charlotte sets off to find–and change–her future–before it comes for her.
This collection also features, for the first time ever in print, Schwab’s original 2013 text short story Warm Up, which is set in the Vicious universe.
ExtraOrdinary Convention Exclusive Edition
Writer: V. E Schwab
Artist: Enid Balam
HC, FC, 112pp , On sale October 12, 2021
ExtraOrdinary Convention Exclusive Edition is available to pre-order from July 23 from AnotherUniverse.co in the USA & CAN and ForbiddenPlanet.com/sdcc2021/ in the UK and Europe.
Panels:
Doctor Who Comics Panel
July 23, 2021
The video stream will premiere on July 23, 2021 at 1pm Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Runtime: 1hr
Titan Comics’ Doctor Who books are back and better than ever in 2021, with brand-new stories and characters from across the Whoniverse! Forbidden Planet TV’s Andrew Sumner goes behind the scenes of the critically-acclaimed series with Eisner-nominated writer Jody Houser, artist Roberta Ingranata, colorist Enrica Eren Angiolini and editor Jake Devine as they discuss the success of their Doctor Who: Missy series.
Blade Runner Comics Panel
July 24, 2021
The video stream will premiere on July 24, 2021 at 1pm Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Runtime: 1hr
Return to the spectacular world of Blade Runner with Titan Comics’ critically-acclaimed, best-selling comics adaptations of Ridley Scott’s 1982 masterpiece. Both of Titan’s ongoing series – Blade Runner Origins (which recounts the birth of the Blade Runner division) and Blade Runner 2029 (following the career of Detective Ash) are going from dystopian strength-to-strength and Forbidden Planet TV’s Andrew Sumner rounds up writers Mellow Brown, K. Perkins & Mike Johnson, artists Andres Guinaldo & Fernando Dagnino, editor David Leach and Alcon Publishing’s Jeff Connor to discuss Blade Runner’s cultural influence and continuing success!
V. E. Schwab’s ExtraOrdinary Comics Panel
July 25, 2021
The video stream will premiere on July 25, 2021 at 10am Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Runtime: 1hr
2021 has already been an ExtraOrdinary year for best-selling author V. E. Schwab and the excitement continues with Titan Comics! Her most recent novel The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue reached No.1 in the Publishers Weekly fiction chart and her new ExtraOrdinary series from Titan Comics debuted in June 2021 – taking her fans deeper into the world of Schwab’s critically acclaimed Villains novels! Forbidden Planet TV’s Andrew Sumner goes behind-the-scenes with V.E. herself and series artist Enid Balam to discuss this epic new series!
Max Allan Collins Panel – Three Hard Cases: Ms Tree, Mike Hammer & Nolan!
July 23, 2021
The video stream will premiere on July 23, 2021 at 12pm Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Runtime: 1hr
In this special discussion, Forbidden Planet TV’s Andrew Sumner sits down with SDCC Inkpot Award-winning comics writer/novelist/movie director Max Allan Collins (Quarry’s War, Road To Perdition) to discuss his various ongoing crime comics & crime novels for Titan: Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, career criminal Nolan and unstoppable female private eye Ms.Tree, all of whom return with all-new adventures in 2021!
The post Titan Comics at San Diego Comic-Con@Home2021 appeared first on The Nerd Element.
Let's get into it, people! Welcome to the "hippest trip in America," better known as Afronerd Radio's The Grindhouse internet broadcast, airing every Sunday at 6 p.m. eastern on the BTalk 100 platform. Join your very competent blerd-centric hosts as they delve into this week's pop topics: MAN...this stuff is happening far too frequently. Hip Hop icon, Marcel Theo Hall aka Biz Markie passes at 57 after suffering complications from Type 2 diabetes; new supernatural TV series alert! It seems like the new SYFY series, SurrealEstate is garnering great reviews but is teetering below the radar. Hopefully, our blerd universe will assist with changing that perception; our thoughts about the Loki season finale and the revelation that there will be an S2 ; in a rather slick and comedic way, the latest Deadpool teaser shows that the character is indeed a part of the MCU:
Reviews are in for the Space Jam reboot featuring Lebron James and Don Cheadle, and albeit they're not that great, money is still flowing through the animated film overtaking the top spot from Marvel's Black Widow; and just as we are forced to address a weekly onslaught of untimely celebrity deaths, we also have to address even more Karen vs Black folk minding their own damn business tales;
After a rather interesting video clip of Tyler Perry's Sistas TV show went viral, the consensus on Twitter concluded that Mr. Perry needs to hire writers:
WTF is wrong with Tyler Perry?!! pic.twitter.com/9bPn6Y5pwT
— ☥ Virgin Mary (@_realjgoodwin) July 14, 2021
Netflix' Gunpowder Milkshake premiered this week with Kingsman comparisons; Can a comic book creator make a living without a secondary stream of income? And lastly, is Black Rifle Coffee the Right's answer to left-leaning Starbucks coffee?
One thing that Dburt is doing (finally) is investing in cryptocurrency, courtesy of Roundlyx. We would implore our followers to investigate, discern and then explore by using our referral code: afro-87A4BF
Call us LIVE at 508-645-0100. AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!!
or This link below.....
Also, Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via BTalk 100 Pandora, Spotify and, IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!