Why a Buggy Easter Egg Beat Scratch for My Kids
The Importance of Limitations for Creativity and Learning
Dave Gauer noticed his kids spent more time playing with a glitchy easter egg in their school's document editor than with Scratch, which he considers brilliantly designed. The easter egg's severe limitations and easy breakability made it more inviting than a feature-rich tool. He extends the idea to painting, storytelling, and film budgets: constraints invite play, while too many options leave newcomers paralyzed.
Give me a nice set of paints and brushes and a big blank canvas and watch me agonize about what to paint. But put a ragged piece of scrap paper and a pencil in front of me and watch me start to doodle!