Boy attends school via robot
A New York 7-year-old with severe allergies experiences school for the first time with the help of a robot and a wireless video connection
By: Kimberly Horner, Parenting.com
Unable to physically go to school because of severe allergies, 7-year-old Devon Carrow "attends" Winchester Elementary School remotely using a robot with a wireless video connection, reports the Associated Press. With the help of his 4-foot-tall VGo bot, Carrow can take part in classroom discussions and even walk the halls-driving the four-wheeled robot through a mouse and keystrokes.
"With this he really gets a feel, a sensation, of being there," said Principal Kathleen Brachmann.
Plus: How to Help Your Kids Love School
Carrow suffers from an allergic inflammatory condition called eosinophilic esophagitis and anaphylactic shock syndrome, which can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. With the VGo robot, introduced in 2011, Carrow is able to attend school for the first time.
"It's so cool because it's like playing a game on the computer," Carrow said of the VGo. "It's like your objective is to just survive."
Plus: Handling Elementary School Social Struggles
But to his high-tech classmates, Carrow is just a regular student -- he gets to play with his friends at recess and is expected to complete his homework assignments on time.
"I wondered how the little kids would take to him, thinking they'd be amazed," Brachmann said. "But I think kids are so tech-savvy now that they accept it more than we do."
Bing: Craziest inventions
More from Parenting.com:
Pros and Cons of Technology in the Classroom
Is "Nut-Free" Not Fair?
Educational iPhone Apps for Kids
family: tips, trends & advice for all things family
-
20 hottest dog breeds
From designer crosses to giant breeds, we scoured Vetstreet's data of millions of dog breeds to determine the trendiest breeds of the past decade.
-
The 10 Most Important Things Fathers Can Teach Their Kids
One of the most unsettling consequences of bringing a child into your previously simple, happily oblivious manly life is that you’re now unquestionably, inescapably…The Man.
-
Holy moly! The moment I realized I was a mom
Whether it was baby’s first kick or the first time your boobs leaked in public, there’s a point in every mom’s life when the world as you know it ends and you realize -- Whoa, I'm someone's mom now. Some of our favorite mommy bloggers revealed what their aha moments were. They range from heartwarming to completely hilarious.
-
17 easy Mother’s Day crafts for families
From DIY jewelry to homemade “flowers” to sweet vases, you can help your kid make mom’s day with these crafty gifts.
-
What no one told me about motherhood
The first parenting shock: They let you take the baby home. Like, without supervision. Only then do the real surprises unfold. Here's what readers told us was most unexpected for them as they embraced this whole mama thing.
-
21 adorable Etsy finds for little ones
Be prepared to say, 'awww,' multiple times while flipping through this collection super-sweet stuff for babies and kids on Etsy.com. Take a peek at some of our favorite finds for moms (and click 'More' to find out how to get this amazing gnome hat!)...By MSN Living editors
-
The top 24 most stylish celebrity moms (just in time for Mother’s Day)
Your Mother’s Day plans are all set, right? Brunch is booked and a fabulous gift is wrapped and ready to go. So take a breather and celebrate these stylish celebrity moms who work hard, care for their kids, and manage to look amazing in the process.
-
Top baby names of 2013
Find out this year’s top baby names on Parenting.com, and see what we predict will be big in 2013
-
Most popular baby names of 2012
Sophia and Jacob reign supreme.
-
Having it all: What that means to these moms
In an online contest, Parenting.com asked readers to tell us what it means to "have it all." Read the winner's moving essay on how that phrase has defined her motherhood, plus essays from the three runners up.
-
Puppy survives alone in car for a month
Tow lot employee finds abandoned pup.
-
10 reasons pets make better partners than people
Animals, says Dr. Patty Khuly, are the best listeners in the world and don’t care that you’ve just been dumped or laid off.
