Electronics set for a 10 year old - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 01:58:23 pm
content: A friend of mine has 3 kids home from school right now and the two younger ones, 10 and 11 only spend about 1-1/2 hours a day with school work so they have a lot of free time. He wants them to do something educational with their time so he asked me about electronics sets suitable for their age group. It's a mighty long time since I had one. What sets are people finding good nowadays?

author: mortrek
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 02:14:21 pm
content: Elenco makes some good Radio Shack-esque electronics learning sets.edit: I guess build quality has been going down in the Elenco sets lately... not sure if there is something really nice but comparable. I've heard nice things about the snapcircuits kits, but personally I don't like the format very much.

author: kallek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 02:23:41 pm
content: I don't have much experience from different kits, but I would start with reasonable quality soldering iron and roll of good quality fine solder. And small DC fan blowing fumes away. Leaded solder is best and safe but hands should be washed after soldering! For example velleman audio amplifier kit would be good for kids.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 02:25:42 pm
content: I would Google for 'robotics kits for youngsters' The idea is to find something kids can interact with. Actually, the LEGO Robotics arena has a lot to offer. Google for 'lego robotics'.I can't think of anything more boring than trying to learn electronics without some form of physical interaction. Some days, I would remove the qualifier...It is going to depend on the kids, how smart are they and where, other than video games, do their interests lie? I was always into Erector Sets and the Gilbert Chemistry Set but I was a kid in the '50s.Any of the robotics kits are going to require a bit of computer work. Is there somebody around to help the kids up the learning curve? Perhaps split the effort on the Lego stuff, let the kids build the physical robot and an adult take care of the computer stuff. Once shown how to do the computer stuff the kids can carry on. Again, it's going to depend on the kids. Can they learn programming by following along?ETA:I don't know if this kit is appropriate. It's going to depend on how advanced the kids are and whether the parent(s) can provide guidance.https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-Tracking-Ultrasonic-Intelligent-Educational/dp/B07KPZ8RSZ

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 04:52:59 pm
content: +1 for Elenco snap circuitshttps://www.amazon.com/Snap-Circuits-SC-300-Electronics-Exploration/dp/B0000683A4/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=elenco+snap+circuits&qid=1587746192&sr=8-7Elenco has smaller less expensive kits (starting at about $20) and more expensive kits up to a larger kit packaged in a nice case to keep parts organized. The kits come with some very good instructional booklets that have colorful diagrams and explanations. They will give a kid a sense for what’s a circuit including what’s a resistor, capacitor, transistor, and more without having to absorb too many details all at once. With an Elenco snap circuits kit (and I’d add an entry level DMM) kids can build a lot of projects and learn a lot individually, or together (if you have kids that play well together, and this might help), or with parents.Up from the Elenco snap circuits or maybe alongside would probably be breadboards and parts and a few tools, and an Arduino. But for young kids (or kids with no or little electricity understanding) I think a reasonable sequence is to start with snap circuits – then graduate to breadboards, wires and a wire cutter plus parts, and then get to Arduinos. The idea is for kids to have some safe, enjoyable and successful experience, build interest, confidence, and competence, and keep moving along (under their own motivation) to bigger and more complex concepts.Arduinos have the advantages and challenges of simultaneously exposing kids to circuits in both the form of hardware and software. Kids maybe figure out software a little faster these days because they are exposed to lots of apps and mousing and clicking but the beauty of the Elenco kits is they enable kids to learn the electricity basics of hardware in a hands on manner that can then make the electrical (non-coding) aspect of Arduino projects easier to grasp.For some people either electricity or coding is challenging - so both at the same time (ie, Arduino projects) can (believe it or not) make some kids (and some adults) feel like they started in the deep end of the pool. The Elenco kits will help kids focus on and learn some electricity building blocks without having to simultaneously learn coding. Then from snap circuits to breadboards is a natural migration and from breadboards you’re knocking on the door of Arduinos and software-city.Either way, if you can get a 10 year old to understand and enjoy electricity then coding, or coding and then electricity, or both at the same time - the sky is the limit. For a lot of kids software is second nature but I think electricity sometimes gets bypassed and these Elenco snap circuit kits can help avoid the “start with software but never really get immersed in electricity” path that is popular today. For kids who need help with electricity before or in addition to coding the snap circuit kits can be a great place to start. No doubt, for some kids (and adults) electricity and coding just naturally fit together - but if you have an ~8 to ~12 year old who isn’t already a rocket scientist the Elenco snap circuits can be a very graceful way to start the journey.FWIW, I would definitely give a kid the Elenco kits and Arduinos before a soldering iron, and for sure if you want something they can safely learn and do unsupervised (as long as the kids are old enough not to eat the parts). Even supervised, the Elenco kits would be a great way for non-EE parents to guide or learn alongside their kids. If a parent is already an EE, they probably won’t need a lot of help in selecting kits and projects for their kids. For most other parents, the Elenco snap circuits kits have little downside and a lot of upside.

author: kallek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 05:32:06 pm
content: It's true that those electronic playground kits and snap circuits are good because kids can play and experience with them safely themselves.When starting soldering, proper tools are good to have.

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 06:39:19 pm
content: A few words on the project kit.They exist in two broad categories:One where the parts are stationary and you use a ratsnest of wires to connect them to each other - That's the one to avoid!THe other is where the parts (at least most of them) are placed where they need to be.similar to this:https://www.amazon.com/Elenco-300-in-One-Electronic-Project-Lab/dp/B00005K86O/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=200+projects+electronics+kit&qid=1587752769&sr=8-7I don't know if today's 10 yo, will be impressed by connecting a circuit to make electronic sounds or an amplifier and hearing your voice coming out of a speaker ..but some time ago when I was 10 and started with a 102-in-one similar project kit getting the idea to connect the ceramic head turntable to the amplifier instead of the crystal microphone and playing a record (when no one was looking - for good measure) was amazing.The record was Carmen singing Maria Callas.Every so often I listen to it and that same feeling comes back. Although now it soundsa lotbetter !Edit to add: similar thread here :https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what_s-the-best-age-to-introduce-kids-to-electronics/Added Polikiklomatistis - multicircuit-er as in someone or something that can make/create multiple circuits loosely translated

author: ralphrmartin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 07:01:47 pm
content: I had great fun as a kid with a Philips Electronics Engineer kit. You still see them second hand from time to time.

author: t1d
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 12:52:27 am
content: Quote from: kallek on April 24, 2020, 02:23:41 pmThat should be "After soldering... Before eating..."

author: Jwillis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 04:12:05 am
content: Apparently there are still electronic lab kits being produced by Maxitronix and Elenco . I'm not sure if Elenco and Maxitronix are the same thing or not. These kits Are much like the old Radio Shake Labs . They can be purchased from a few U.S. and Canadian sources but can't confirm any Australian sources.https://www.homesciencetools.com/product/electronics-lab-300-in-1-kit/https://www.robotshop.com/ca/en/elenco-mx-907-200-in-1-electronic-project-lab-kit.htmlhttps://store.qkits.com/10-in-1-electronic-lab-kit.htmlhttps://www.amazing1.com/pages/sci-ed/electronic-learning-lab-kits.htmlAlso many vintage Radio Shack kits are still available through Ebay if the age of the Kit is of no concern to you .Non of these require any soldering or other equipment and well suited for the age group you have described.

author: Raj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 09:49:15 am
content: Either teach them using cardboard, standard through hole electronic components with wire wrapped circuit or don't do it.It's dangerous for them to work with chemicals like flux and lead at growing age.Plus with wire wrapping they'll eventually also learn to make thing look sturdy.But I suggest you to teach them coding instead

author: dropkick
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 09:06:51 pm
content: I started around 9 with a rat shack 200-in-1, breadboard, random parts, and some very basic books. The Shack was two blocks away and well within biking distance several times a week.... to think of the money spent on those single parts! 5 pack of 1K resistors anyone?Soldering (with lead, thank you), was no more than a year later. I turned out ok. I still love the smellMy cousins of the same age are doing the exact same thing, with snap circuits as step 1, and a soldering kit last Christmas.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 09:12:37 pm
content: Quote from: t1d on April 25, 2020, 12:52:27 amApparently washing your hands doesn't remove all the lead.Quotehttps://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lead/safe.html

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 12:03:52 am
content: I had an extensive answer here but apparently the crashing of my computer caused a transmission failure.In any event from my perspective there are not any good "Electronics Kits" any more. The More that I think about it the more I believe there never was a really outstanding set considering what you paid for it.As a result I think you are better off looking for a good breadboard and a set of components. Along with that find a good book and a few links to online sites. these days large bags or boxes of parts can be had, often coming from China, that have enough stuff to get a 10 year old started. These are often a better value than the Electronics Kits of the past and help young people get a feel for the various things that make up electronic circuits. Some seem to think that using a breadboard is too complex for a 10 year old but honestly if they can't handle that electronics probably isn't in their future. The hard part here is the book, I just am to far out of my youth to even know what to suggest.Now if you have lots of money to spend you might want to consider all sorts of other things that somebody new to electronics will need. If it is affordable, a good DMM would do the trick. Good here impliesSAFE, which sadly too many meters are not safe. There is no reason to buy 8 digits of resolution. A cheap power supply would be nice too.Also don't forget the basic tools. I'm talking hand tools and soldering equipment. The kid might be able to raid the family tool box for some stuff but there might not be tools suitable for electronic work there. By the way I see nothing wrong with a 10 year old soldering even with leaded solder. It never hurt me or anyone else I've known into electronics. Beyond that the harvesting of electronics from old surplus stuff is what got many of us started in the field. Tools are good and 10 years old is a good place to start to learn to use them properly.

author: Raj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 05:00:38 am
content: Oh and the big "safe" word reminded me of saying , stick to using current limiting low voltage power supply or low current, voltage battery like AA. Won't want an explosion/shock to happen

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 05:26:09 am
content: Quote from: Raj on April 27, 2020, 09:49:15 amI was soldering proficiently by the time I was 10 or 11, it's not that big of a deal, just teach them to handle the tools and materials safely. Obviously that depends on the kid, some are more ready to work with such things than others.Coding is cool too but that's a whole different discipline, doing one does not preclude the other, I'd encourage anyone to try both, they're both handy skills.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 06:16:08 pm
content: I personally lived this myself, and re-lived it with my now 18YO son who is pursuing an EE degree at CalPoly. A couple of comments:* If you want them to be entertained but not really learn all that much, robotics kits (Lego Mindstorm, etc.) are fine. If you want them tolearn electronics, get setups like the Elenco kits. My son HATED Lego Mindstorm, which was what his supposedly STEM elementary and middle school thought was real Engineering. Being extremely generous, all they'll learn is click-and-drag scripting. It's not coding, it's not programming, it's not Software Engineering, and it's definitely not electronics. YMMV and apologies for coming on so strong, but the irritation still stings from my son's negative experiences with Mindstorm and the fact that academics thought it was a short step from Mindstorm robotics competitions to a career in IC design. Far better that they start playing around with REAL components, in a structured setup like Elenco or similar, if the goal is to get them interested in actual Engineering.* Encourage - don't fear - letting them use a real soldering iron and real, leaded solder. Get them some real tools and some discardable components and turn them loose. A battery holder, and a handful of LED's and resistors and capacitors, will teach them a lot in a short time. Will they burn themselves? Sure. Will they smoke some discretes, or overheat them while soldering? Absolutely, and that is part of the learning process. Will they damage their DNA or health from solder fumes? Not if you have a fan nearby. I bet a substantial percentage of the people on this site were soldering before their teens and with a few exceptionsthey've turned out just fine.In this vein, I have a friend who is a pilot for Delta Airlines. He happens to be home a lot right now, so he's taken on the role of homeschooler for his three children. He's asked me to give them a day-course in electricity and electronics. My plan is exactly what I described above: Have them each use a battery holder and an LED to build themselves a little "light module", and swap in various values of resistors (maybe even a pot) to see if their predictions about its effect on the LED will be true. I'm going to start with a hand-operated air pump and some hose to teach them about pressure (voltage), flow (current), and resistance (have one kid kink the hose) so they can grok the basics, then transition to electrons instead of water. They'll each get to take home their little modules as a momento. Will they have a degree in Electronics? No, but they'll have learned some basics, worked with real components, and have something physical to show for it. THAT's how kids learn.* Has your friend considered ham radio? Not sure what the licensing is in Australia, but in the USA we have a "Technician" license that is WELL within the abilities of those kid's ages. My son got his Tech license at 6YO, and had his General by 7YO. There are 2M/440MHz handhelds out of China these days for WELL under 100 USD that could get them talking on local repeaters, which via links can connect them around the world. My son talked with a ham at McMurdo Station in Antarctica from the back seat of our car while I was filling up at a gas station, via a local repeater. One could argue that this is just another "canned" experience like Lego Mindstorm, but history is filled with EE's who started with ham radio... it seems to inspire a more hands-on mentality. Worst case it could be a nice adjunct to the component stuff mentioned above. We had a world map on the wall for years with pins identifying locations he'd talked to, which gave him a nice world geography foundation too. BTW, my son was calculating and building his own antennas in the 6-8YO age range using solid wire, PVC pipe, whatever he could find. EDIT: Here'sa sub-100 USD handheld from Yaesu, a very well respected Japanese brand:https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ysu-ft-4xrNot sure if that specific model is available in AUS but there are also the Chinese handhelds that I mentioned for even less. I'm amazed Yaesu has anything this inexpensive and I wouldn't hesitate buying it.* Exposure to software is valuable too, and things like Arduinos are dirt cheap from a variety of sources. This is vastly superior to something like Mindstorm because they're exposed to the hardware and it's not just click-and-drag. But I'd be sure to research, find, and buy a least one "shield" (add-on board) for the Arduino that actually does something physical. Just writing code that doesn't actually do something gets boring fast for kids. They need lots of feedback. I don't know what's available in the Arduino world but I bet someone makes a shield that does more than flash an LED. The more physical feedback, especially the kind that can impress their siblings and friends, the better. EDIT: Found these examples of complete "Get Started With Arduino" that include a hardware element:https://www.adafruit.com/product/68andhttps://www.adafruit.com/product/170. Not an endorsement, just the first things to pop up from a Google search.No matter which paths are chosen, when they start begging to order additional discrete components, you'll know you've reached them. Give them the tools, offer some basic guidance, and get out of the way. Maybe being stuckat home will turn out to be a good thing. As our Mark Twain said, "Don't let school get in the way of your education."

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 09:54:49 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on April 30, 2020, 05:26:09 amSame here, as a result I can now solder SMD with a Weller 100W gun... Not sure if that skill is of much use, but there you go!