by: Jeremy Cook
As parents, we’re constantly struggling to balance the positives and negatives technology brings to our families’ lives. Although our devices can breed isolation and cause us to disconnect from each other, tech can also bring us together in new and exciting ways. In celebration of Father’s Day, we’re examining how fathers can actually use technology to strengthen their connections with their children. Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Today’s technological innovations are changing the way parents and kids spend time together. Instead of allowing technology to be an isolating and individual experience, these dads are using tech to build bonds with their kids.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
Today’s electronic toys offer the chance for dads and kids to practice STEM skills during playtime.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
Move over, remote-controlled airplanes: Drones are the new toys that are taking to the skies.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
Dad hands over the wheel, watching the possibilities (and the excitement) soar.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
Voice-controlled personal assistants help dads and kids create, innovate and, yes, even bake.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
“Smart” speakers spark quality together time—learning, listening and laughing.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
Time spent building together takes on new dimensions with the use of a 3D printer.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
With technology that allows him to work from home, Dad has extra chances for midday snuggles.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
With countless apps and streaming services, introducing children to Dad’s favorite music has never been easier.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
Dads and their kids can now explore new destinations and capture memories with the power of a pocket-sized gadget.
Indeed, modern dads and kids are creating lasting memories and enhancing their father/child bond—playing, learning, building, creating, exploring and simply spending time together—with the help of today’s technology.
Playing (and Learning) Together
Old-school toys that dads and kids have enjoyed together for decades may never go out of style, but today’s toys have evolved to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Tech-loving dads now have opportunities to spend educationally charged fun with their children.
When Adam Cohen of the dadarocks.com blog was growing up, electronic toys were limited to solo-play devices like Game Boy video games and clunky, rudimentary robots. “When I was a kid, Game Boy had just been introduced, and handheld games were still massive devices,” he says. “And now we have cell phones that have, what is it, 28 times the power of all the computers that landed the lunar rover?”
Because of this explosion in technology, Cohen can play with his kids with interactive, electronic toys in a way that wouldn’t have been possible during his childhood. Although he still sometimes plays video games with his son and electronic dance games with the whole family, what he’s most impressed by are the technological learning tools now available.
As a self-described “all-around techie,” Cohen can now integrate playtime with technology skills, connecting with his children over one of his passions. He spends time playing and learning with his 8-year-old using littleBits, which are interactive components kids can assemble into their own inventions. He’s also impressed with the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar (or “coding worm thing” as he calls it) that he got for his 1 ½-year-old daughter. This device crawls around in different ways depending on how she stacks its colored segments, introducing her to coding at an extremely young age.
Another modern dad, Wes Swain of Geeksmithing and the Making Geeks podcast, enjoys the timeless activity of flying toy planes with his young daughter—except with a modern twist. Together, they fly a quadcopter or “drone.” She steers, while he controls the power so that the drone doesn’t fly off. Though this technology was available during his childhood in the form of RC planes and helicopters, they were prohibitively expensive. Now a drone can cost less than $50, with some even including a tiny camera onboard, making it an accessible toy that’s exciting to both of them.
Swain has also found that inexpensive robots, such as one that can draw patterns on an egg, or another that kids can make and re-make with interchangeable components, can be a constructive and enjoyable way to electrify playtime.
Creating and Building Together
Whether it’s building a birdhouse, constructing a go-cart or cooking a batch of chili, dads and their kids have always bonded in the act of making things together. Not only does it allow for quality time, it can also introduce and develop important skills in problem solving, critical thinking and time management. But evolving technology has given an electro-boost to the creative endeavors between dads and kids.
Smart home technology has given families the ability to be more innovative. With the help of voice assistants, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, and the power of voice-controlled video and speaker systems, dads and kids have limitless resources at their beck and call. These devices can help families get instructions for a construction project, discover a new recipe, or learn how to play a new song on their instrument of choice (and then pipe it through a home speaker system)—all with a simple voice command. (With the right setup, this type of tech can even automatically change the lighting in the room to fit the mood!)
Swain, a master creator, constructed his best-known creation (a nursery based on the video game Mario Kart), after he found out that he was having a second child. Now that his kids, a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are a little older they can share in some of these creative pursuits with him. He and his daughter enjoy an educational subscription service called Kiwi Crate, which delivers experimental learning kits for them to assemble every month.
Additionally, Swain has two 3D printers, with which he can create tangible items with his daughter. In a modern-day twist on the age-old custom of exchanging notes with a pen pal, Swain’s daughter has a long-distance friend who can send her files for a 3D widget. Swain and his daughter are able to print the files off and play with the printed puzzles together (along with her friend via Skype) once the printing is done.
Whether it’s using a 3D printer, making music together, or using YouTube for instructional videos, dads and kids can bond over the art of innovation and creation like never before, thanks to technology.
Gaining the Gift of Time
As recently as the last decade, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dad whose work schedule wasn’t set in stone. Many dads would go to work in the morning outside of the home and not return until the evening, just in time for the children to go to bed. Taking time off to attend a special event at school or help with their child’s daily routine was a struggle for many dads.
While this is still the case for many families, lots of dads these days have more flexibility and choice in their schedules. The ability to work remotely has allowed them to be around more for their kids. Michael Sheehan of HighTechDad notes that the technology allowing dads to work at home has advanced significantly, and that along with this ability, or perhaps in part because of it, the culture has shifted. It’s now more acceptable for dads to take time off work to spend time with the kids, he says.
For Sheehan, the oldest of his three girls (age 18), is both a high-school student at CAVA (California Virtual Academy) and a professional ballerina. Naturally, this means a lot of driving her between home and various events, which can run quite late at times. Though his day job is mostly in the office, Sheehan often uses the time he spends waiting for rehearsals and performances to finish his research and write for his blog, using a combination of synced online services. Doing this remotely allows him the flexibility to help transport his daughter to her various commitments. Though providing shuttle service can be hectic for him and his wife, it provides a time for him to connect with his daughter.
Dave Taylor of Gofatherhood.com has been in the tech industry since the beginning of the internet. While he says the “pervasiveness of the online world is a massive change,” he also notes that the internet has made things much better in some respects. He says that it’s now more accepted for fathers to take time off work and participate in life with their kids. “We’re living in a better era for fathers and their children,” he says.
Exploring the World and Creating Memories
One of the most precious ways in which we can connect with our kids is to explore the world together. Saving and sharing memories of our adventures strengthens our connections, and today’s technology allows us to do that in creative ways.
Tiny cameras have revolutionized what we can capture. Even basic smartphones have excellent video capabilities, offering some exciting possibilities, from creating movies to just communicating with each other. Cohen enjoys using a GoPro camera for recording family events involving water, such as going to the pool or beach. (He’s also tried spherical virtual reality cameras, and while he thinks this technology is the future, he believes it still needs a little more development before becoming entirely mainstream.)
Besides giving us the power to capture photos and video wherever we are, smartphones and social media websites have allowed us to share these memories with each other in ever-evolving ways. Sheehan says of his family: “We text and share funny videos and notes. I think it’s the modern-day replacement for the note in a lunchbox. It’s more instant and easy to stay in touch.”
Some digital cameras and smartphones can also embed extra information in photos called metadata. This can not only tell you what camera settings were used in the shot, but in some cases it can also note the actual location using a device’s GPS coordinates. You can put together all the photos you took at your last family vacation, or you could use your camera to direct you back to the location of a great shot you took while exploring an exotic destination 10 years ago!
Technology is all about connections. Whether it helps families plan fun activities, create something new, learn together or explore the world together, the power of technology is helping dads and their kids strengthen their bond and build memories of a lifetime.
Adam Cohen Michael Sheehan Dave Taylor Wes Swain
dadarocks.com hightechdad.com gofatherhood.com geeksmithing.com
@dadarocks @HighTechDad @DaveTaylor @geeksmithing
About the Author: Jeremy Cook is an engineer and writer in the Southeastern US, with a BSME from Clemson University and over 10 years of factory automation experience. He’s an avid maker and experimenter, building anything that comes into his mind! He also writes for the Home Depot, where they carry a wide selection of smart home and technology products like those described by these dads.
