#52 Bring Variety

Bring Variety

A storyboard is an algorithm for a movie or a game. Analyze storyboards of favorite books, movies, games, or jokes and find their parts, such as plots or motifs. Knock-knock jokes and “Why did the chicken cross the road?” jokes have distinctive algorithms. Fairy tales and stand-up gags often feature two repetitions and the third action breaking the pattern, for example, “Three Little Pigs” or “Three Billy Goats Gruff.”

Play “Silly Robot” with math computations or geometric constructions that have several steps. How many mistakes can you make in one problem? Making mistakes on purpose is hugely therapeutic!

Try playing this game around an annoying or persistent issue your child struggles with, such as screwing a cap back onto a juice carton, or tying shoelaces. The game will make you laugh and relax. It will also help the child to analyze, debug, and perfect the problematic algorithm.