Every year Outfit7 hosts a week-long summer school where an educational institution Digital School teaches Outfit7 employees’ kids the basics of coding, logical thinking, and — the fun part — how games are made! Also, Summer School is an opportunity for children to get a taste of what their parents actually do. And, of course, it helps alleviate some of that summer stress that any working parent will be familiar with.
“My son is already super impressed that his old man is working for Talking Tom” says Uroš, “But I want him to see how that works on the inside, as well as gaining new appreciation of the craft and picking up a new skill or two. And, more importantly, Summer School gives us another way to bond.”
“I firmly believe that technical knowledge is already the key for the vast majority of jobs today, and will be even more so in the future, and I want my son to have as much of a head start as possible without it being a burden and pressure on him. I know that every bit of knowledge and every skill he can pick up on his way will be invaluable for him in the long run.”
And according to Laura, who’s overseeing the organization of this year’s event, Summer School is a fun, educational way of supporting employees at what can be a tricky time of the year for working parents.
“Summer School is just one of the ways to help the parents maintain a healthy work-life balance over the summer,” Laura says. “They love it because it keeps their kids occupied, active, and engaged. And their kids love it because… well, because they’re having so much fun they don’t even notice how much they’re learning!”
Of course, all of that fun doesn’t happen by accident. As Digital School's Matija Torlak explains,
“Fun is at the heart of our approach to empowering young learners with new knowledge. The greatest joy comes from providing children with the opportunity to use their imagination and passion to create something of their own, and from building their confidence, deepening their understanding, and developing their patience and perseverance along the way.”
And who knows? Maybe some of these kids will one day find themselves among the next generation of game makers. Anything is possible!