Curious Construction Kit: A programmable building kit for early childhood

Abstract

Imaginative play is a rich source of learning and development for early childhood. Constructionist theory also highlights the benefits of play involving programmable elements and the process of construction and building. In this paper, we describe a new educational tool, the Curious Construction Kit (CCK), a building platform that allows children to become fully immersed in their creative, constructive play. We believe that young children will be able to engage deeply in design when using the CCK, both allowing for representations to emerge and planning for them. Design features of the CCK are explained, as well as hypothetical use cases. Future work and theoretical considerations are also discussed.