An Introduction to Robotics: Let's Construct a Simple Robot

When my oldest son was in first grade, I picked him up from a play date. It was a cold winter day, and he had spent the entire time inside, playing on a gaming console. I understood that entertaining two active boys all day in the dead of winter isn’t easy – sometimes you can’t just tell them to go outside and play. Still, I felt there must be something better for them to be doing with all that time. 
  
Being an electrical engineer, I decided it was time to introduce my son to electrical circuits. So, I drove to the nearest store to buy a kit for young kids and purchased our first Snap Circuits Kit. This kit started our adventure into building different types of engineering projects for kids.
I discovered a fun Robotics kit at a birthday party where this kit was the center of attention. My son liked the party – and he loved working with robotics - so I ordered a starter kit online. We spent hours, then days building and rebuilding, learning everything the equipment could offer when the kit came in. My younger son also joined us in a limited capacity since he was four years younger.
  
Later, when my older son had problems with his math homework, I used the kit to help him understand the work. Don’t get me wrong, this kit did not solve all his math problems, but I could tell that it was enriching his education and helped build his confidence.
  
That’s when I decided there was an opportunity for kids like my boys, who loved building Legos, playing with circuits, and taking things apart. Who essentially were young engineers. So, I eventually figured out a way to create a business that focused on children who loved engineering and technology. 
 
Thus, ConstructU was born. 

So, as my sons grew older, they were my product testers. I discovered so many things that they liked and did not like. I also learned to offer them enrichment outside of school, help them find the subjects they loved, and enhance their learning in those subjects.

My sons grew up with my company as we explored the fun and exciting world around us. They started working as STEM student instructors in high school, which helped with their college acceptance and scholarship offers.

Today one is in college studying to be a biomedical engineer. The other graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in “Diplomacy and International Relations” and is currently working in a somewhat technical field. I am now growing my business online to help as many kids as possible, like my sons, young engineers.