Sylvan Learning Centre is offering up a full day of activities for any Red Deer Public or Catholic School students with nothing to do on their P.D days off.

This won't be your typical day of learning though, with the Centre giving kids the chance to try activities like robotics, coding, animation, science, and building at a maker station.

Owner Ken Coulton says engineering, and computer engineering are two career fields in large demand, and this day of fun could lead them down that road.

"We're not giving kids anything they don't want to do either. These are activities that seem to be real win-win. Where the kids have a real curiosity for it, and down the road it might lead them to something that and a benefit in a career."

For parents who can't leave their kids at home on their day off, or would like them doing something other than just sitting aroud, this program is intended to feel like a quick 6 hours for kids.

Coulton says unlike sitting at a desk reading, these hands on activities allow children to use both parts of their brain.

"It's very analytical, but yet creative at the same time. So you're building a structure and have flexibility with how you do so, but you'll have to obey certain laws of physics or engineering in the case of the robot. To get all the gears to mesh, and everything working. So kids are using their left brain and right brain."

Coulton says many of the activities worked on can be taken home as well.

It's for kids in grades 2 and up and costs just $45, or the same price being offered by daycares for a day.

To register your child, for this Friday's P.D day programs you can call them at 403-341-6110, email them at sylvanreddeer@shaw.ca, or visit their Facebook page by clickig on the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/events/240015243101863/