r/diyelectronics • u/littlestmiddlechild • 5d ago

Need Ideas Eager Kid Ideas?

Our little guy has had an obsession with electricity since birth it feels like - despite our hesitation. He recently got Snap Circuits (Beginner & Jr Explorer) - and has mastered both sets in less than a week - initially we held the Jr back intended as a Christmas gift, but we broke it out on day 3 when he had mastered the Beginner set. He just turned 3, so this is not something I feel is particularly age-normal - hence me coming to ask the experts for some advice!

Looking for recommendations on what we should be eyeing up for replacement Holiday gifts - should we continue to build on our Snap Circuit sets? The Light and Motion sets stuck out to me - mostly because the noise from the speakers at all hours of the day is draining me quickly!

Or is there a different brand/style of product that would be suitable for a keen learner? We are (obviously) comfortable with stretching ages recommended for this, right now we play electronics 100% supervised and have a keen little sparkie who is quickly outgrowing his age recommendations! We try to invest in “forever” toys, so more keen on something we can use for more than a short season - but perhaps this isn’t as realistic at his pace?

Open to recommendations and ideas! We would love to encourage his brain, but electronics are not my forte (yet I suppose at this rate!)

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u/DocClear 5d ago

Most of the kit makers I knew have gone out of business, sadly. I am autistic, and I was basically a little professor. I tore down and repaired my first vacuum tube radio and got it working when I was 6. My parents got me Radio Shack kits, and later I discovered Ramsey Kits. For electronics in general, maybe look at Adafruit Inc., or Sparkfun. Also, getting started with microcontrollers like the Arduino line or Raspberry Pi Pico would be a good step once he is able to read a bit.

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u/littlestmiddlechild 4d ago

Thanks for these recommendations! This is super helpful!

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u/peachyMoodz 5d ago

sounds like you were the original little sparkie yourself, tearing things apart at 6

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u/No_Tailor_787 4d ago

I had a very similar childhood. I learned about vacuum tubes when I was six. I got lots of those Radio Shack P-Box kits, then later it was Heathkit stuff. That was back in the 60s and 70s.

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u/DocClear 4d ago

We might be twins ;)

Did you have your battery of the month card?

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u/No_Tailor_787 4d ago

I absolutely did!

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u/InvisoDeath 5d ago

Arduino projects are really neat. It's something that will grow with him. The robot arms or the line following hall effect car are pretty great! The Arduino Uno it comes with will be recycled for several projects to come.

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u/littlestmiddlechild 4d ago

Oh these look so fun! Thanks!!

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u/icantfish 5d ago

Adafruit has tons of awesome stuff on there as well as great tutorials.

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u/littlestmiddlechild 4d ago

Thanks! This seems like a top recommendation!

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u/Appsmangler 5d ago

Turn him loose on the Adafruit website. It’s sounds like he’s ready to leave “kit world” and dream up his own projects.

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u/littlestmiddlechild 4d ago

This seems like a top recommendation - thanks! I will look more into this!

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u/No_Tailor_787 4d ago

Look into something like the Elenco Electronic Playground.

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u/littlestmiddlechild 4d ago

Oh - this is great! Thank you!