“Where curiosity grows”
Sun.Star Davao, October 19, 2019
Sun.Star Davao, October 19, 2019
As a kid, half-Filipina half-Polish Anna Makosinski,
22, did not have a mobile phone, Tamagotchi, Nintendo, Wii or Xbox. But,
instead, her parents gave her a hot glue gun which she used to create her
“toys”.
“I was always making things and being
engaged. I loved to tinker and to talk,” she reveals during one of her
inspiring TED talks, “Why I Don’t Use a Smart Phone”.
Her innate curiosity resulted in several inventions which
included a hollow flashlight that can be powered with the heat of the hand
(Makosinski won in the 15-16 age category during the 2013 Google Science Fair for her
thermoelectric flashlight), and an eDrink Mug which acts as a phone charger
using heat from the drink.
Just
like Anna, mom-of-two Debbie Uy-Rodolfo, who recently left the
corporate life to open Tinker House, believes in the power of
tinkering. “To tinker means to play, dabble, and busy oneself. Tinker
House, which started in Tacloban in 2016, is a place where children work with
their hands and do something fun, creative, and interesting,” she beams with
excitement.
Full STEAM ahead
“As
someone new in the field of business, I wanted to embark on a venture that
would be meaningful to me. The advocacy of Tinker House to make science,
technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) activities fun, accessible, and
affordable resonates deeply with me, because I consider myself a lifelong
learner and I believe in the value education,” discloses Debbie who is a
graduate of BS Computer Science major in Information Technology and has an MA
in Journalism.
Tinker House presents arts and science as enjoyable
by making it play-based and hands-on, letting children play in an unstructured
and unhurried manner, and with no time limit. It is very reasonable, starting
at 150 pesos per activity, inclusive of the supplies.
“And,
they get to take home their work! Finally, we make arts and science within
reach as we are in malls and open during mall hours. We can also bring our
activities to your events, schools, and offices,” Debbie says.
Arts and science made fun
Tinker
House has three kinds of engaging activities.
In Fun Crafts, children get to
explore their creativity with open-ended projects and a wide selection of
decorating materials.
On the other hand, in Awesome Builds, children can
assemble and paint puzzles and bots.
Lastly, in Cool Science, Tinker House turns
science into play with slime making, test-tube experiments, and dinosaur egg
and pyramid excavations.
Tinker
House also has retail kits for sale that one can do at home or give as gifts.
“Our
variety of activities suit children from as young as three years old to older
kids and kids at heart. It's a great bonding activity, too, for both kids and
parents. The best part is, aside from keeping the kids away from gadgets, these
activities help to develop creativity, curiosity, and imagination in children –
essential characteristics for them to adapt in a constantly changing world,” Debbie
imparts with a warm smile.
Special
thanks to Tinker House Davao for the photos on this page.
Tinker House is located at SM City Davao, 2nd
Floor Main Mall, in front of the Food Court and Gaisano Mall Tagum, at their
new East Wing, on the 2nd floor, opening on October 25, 2019. For bookings and inquiries,
please contact them at 0999-208-3175 or email at bookings.tinker@gmail.com
Please follow their
Facebook page, Tinker House Davao, for updates.
E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos,
please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.
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