A few years ago, my wife and I were concerned about the constant need our children had to use their devices when visiting a restaurant.
Devices started as a way to keep our kids occupied during long waits or even at the table.
It seemed like an easy way out. A way to keep our kids from "breaking down" while we held an "adult" conversation. We soon realized that we wanted something better.
We wanted a way to spur our kids creativity. At first, our efforts focused on completely removing the devices from their clutches.
How would we keep their attention, spur that creativity, and have fun at the same time?
My wife came up with "Add on pictures". She made use of the two objects every restaurant provides to our children -- crayons and paper -- and made it something interactive and fun.
Quite simply, we would tell our kids to draw something random, and they would add and add and add to their picture. Eventually running out of space or determining their masterpiece was complete.
But oftentimes we would run out of ideas for shapes. The devices slowly crept back into our experiences. Then we realized that devices can help spur this creativity -- even when we did not have the inspiration.
This led us to take an activity that our kids enjoyed and combine it with the same technology we all have access to today.
We created a web app that randomly generates a kid-friendly object, idea, shape -- both literal and abstract -- that they can the add to paper.
Our kids were hooked, and so were we.
We use this website at every restaurant, and even at home, to create wild, fun, unique drawings all the time. No two drawings will turn out the same. My wife and I even join in the fun.
Now we have made the app available to everyone.
From our family to yours. Enjoy!