Laser cutting, computer coding for Christmas decorations

Here in Beijing, a group of Chinese children and their parents are busy making Christmas decorations for their homes. But it’s not just about handiwork, there are also lasers and computers involved. Christmas has officially come to town. Here in Beijing the streets are lit up with colourful lights. And making decorations is now the key activity for Santa’s little helpers, on a mission to adorn the city’s Christmas trees. But this activity in Beijing requires a little more magic. The instructor shows how a laser machine cuts a piece of wooden board into a mini Christmas tree. And then the Children are given all kinds of materials, including scrap paper, pieces of cloth, plastic flowers, stickers and beads to let their imaginations run wild. I’m standing in Maker Space, located at the heart of Beijing’s innovation centre, Zhong Guancun. These kids here are getting their hands on making their own Christmas trees. And what they will also learn is to send out season’s greetings by writing computer codes. A skill that will become more and more important. The instructor teaches the children how to programme a flashing LED cube. First they draw out their messages, and then create computer code, and finally transfer the orders into the cube. The event organizer says coding skills and creativity will give kids a more competitive edge in the future job market. The lights are on, the messages are out. All that’s left to say is a very Merry Christmas.