Ok, so we could not resist it and simply had to share the image that is going viral today – the 1970s “Message to Parents” by LEGO.

Here in San Francisco Bay Area, we are particularly fortunate to have so many opportunities to “put the right material” in our kids’ hands and let their imagination fly.

Look no further than The Young Builders Workshop in Palo Alto. Here kids of all ages are able to build their projects from scratch, using blue prints, raw materials and tools that can be found at any home improvement store. “All it takes is a “can-do” attitude, the right tools, a little bit of practice, safety measures and the skills your child will learn at our workshop”, says the owner, Kobi Schindelheim.

Just further north in San Mateo, Art-Smart Studios offer kids an opportunity to explore creative arts, legos and robotics all in one place. Kids have fun and are being challenged to come up with simple, guided, but creative programming ideas.

In San Francisco, Celsius and Beyond, lets kids ages six through 14 experiment with mazes to solve math questions, music to understand physics and cooking to learn chemistry – all to cover the fascinating topics of science and provide an ever-challenging environment for learning and exploration.

Across the Bay in San Rafael, The Computer Clubhouse provides a creative and safe learning environment where young people work with adult mentors to explore their own ideas, develop skills, and build confidence through the use of technology. The Makerspace here gives students an opportunity to explore their own interests, learn to use tools and materials, and develop creative projects.

So, as you give Thanks this week, remember how fortunate we are to raise our kids in the Bay Area.