3 Engaging Family Activities for Computer Science Week

This week, December 8–14, marks Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek)! It’s an essential time to explore the power of technology, logical thinking, and creativity with your children. Beyond just coding, computer science fosters problem-solving, critical thinking, and the adaptability needed to navigate our increasingly technology-driven society.

But what if you could blend that technological literacy with another crucial life skill?

Meet Elena Czarnowski, the founder of Kid Laboratories. She believes the key to truly preparing kids for the future is her unique STEM² framework (STEM + Money Education). Elena champions the idea that you don’t need expensive robotics kits. You don’t need a complicated lab. You just need 30 minutes and a kitchen table to teach complex, life-altering concepts. By teaching children about money and technology early, we equip them to be creators, not just consumers, of the future.

Elena encourages families to transform daily routines into curiosity-driven moments of learning. Her philosophy is simple: make complex topics easy, fun, and doable in just 10 minutes a day.

“I believe deeply that we can reimagine our systems if we give kids the right foundation early: understanding how money works, how technology thinks, and who they are becoming. When families build this understanding together, they don’t just prepare for the future—they help shape it.”

Ready to raise a future-proof kid? Elena shares three simple, fun, and powerful Family STEM Projects you can do at home in under 30 minutes, perfectly timed for CSEdWeek.

1. TECH: The “If–Then Robot Challenge” (Computer Science Made Playful)

Time: 15–20 minutes

Focus: Computer Science, Logic, Sequencing, and AI Thinking

Celebrate the spirit of the Hour of Code right in your living room! This game is a brilliant, screen-free way to teach kids the basics of programming and conditional logic, which is the foundational way a computer thinks. Teaching this skill early helps children break down big problems into smaller, manageable steps—a process known as computational thinking.

The Project:

* One family member is designated “The Robot.” Their job is only to follow instructions exactly.

* Everyone else is a “Programmer” and writes simple code-cards on sticky notes using the “If–Then” structure. This shows kids how precise instructions are necessary for technology to function.

* Example 1: IF mom claps ->THEN robot spins.

* Example 2: IF the timer beeps -> THEN robot jumps twice.

* The Robot must strictly follow the code when the condition (IF) is met.

Level Up: Add an ELSE clause to introduce more complex logic, mirroring how advanced programs and AI make choices: IF the ball is red -> THEN robot walks forward ELSE robot walks backward. This turns your living room into a real programming lab and your kids into budding CS thinkers. It’s absolutely hilarious… and stealthily educational.

2. MONEYWI$E: The STEM² “Marshmallow Challenge”

Time: 10 minutes (mostly waiting!)

Focus: Kids’ Financial Literacy, Delayed Gratification, Willpower

Financial literacy has been directly linked to higher savings, better credit scores, and increased net worth in adulthood. This activity turns one small moment into a profound lesson in money education, based on the famous Stanford study on impulse control. It directly connects patience with future financial growth.

The Project:

* Place one marshmallow (or small treat) in front of each child.

* Give them two clear choices: Eat it now (Choice 1), or wait until the short timer rings (say, 5 minutes) and earn a second one (Choice 2).

* The tension they feel while waiting is them practicing the exact willpower muscle used in saving, investing, and making smart purchasing decisions instead of impulsive spending.

The Lesson: After the timer ends, whether they waited or not, connect their experience to the real world: Spend now = one treat today. Wait and save = double the reward later. This simple, funny moment becomes a lifelong lesson: When you wait, you win. They instantly see how patience creates growth—the essential core of every strong financial habit.

3. CHARACTER: The “Identity Power Poster”

Time: 20–30 minutes

Focus: Goal-Setting, Growth Mindset, Self-Awareness

Understanding who they are becoming is a core pillar of Kid Laboratories’ curriculum. While CS and financial literacy provide the tools, strong character habits provide the foundation for success. This simple activity teaches children how to engineer their own character and set powerful personal goals.

The Project:

* Turn your kitchen table into a goal-setting studio.

* Have your child choose three traits they want to grow this month (e.g., “Brave,” “Focused,” “Kind,” “Strong,” “Creator,” “Helper”).

* They then create and decorate a poster with drawings, pictures, and power statements like: “I am the kind of kid who finishes what I start.”

* Hang the poster somewhere visible where they will see it daily.

The Magic: You are subtly shaping their identity, not just their behavior. You are giving your child the language for who they are becoming—building their confidence and self-esteem. Every time they see the poster, it acts as a subtle mindset cue, helping them develop a positive, self-engineered character-building habit without a single lecture. This self-awareness is invaluable as they grow up to make complex financial and technical decisions.

🚀 Take the Challenge

This Computer Science Education Week, don’t just talk about the future—build it! Use these three quick Family STEM Projects from Elena Czarnowski and Kid Laboratories to build confidence, computational thinking, and essential life skills right at home. Together, we can empower a generation of kids to lead, create, and dream boldly.

Which Family STEM Project will you try tonight?