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Electric or science toy kits that are decent

I

Ignoramus29226

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am looking for something to give to my soon to be 6 year old nephew
for birthday (we'll pool money with my parents, so I would say the
budget is $100). I also keep in my my 4 year old for the future.

What we are thinking about is buying some sort of "science kit".

What I know from experience is that manufacturers learned that they
can get away with making complete CRAP that they pass for a "science
kit". These things never work, they simply are hoping that it would be
collecting dust in some closet, which usually is the case. I had a bad
experience with one such kit, which I returned.

So... Does anyone know of decent kits within that price range of $100.

Either electrical or chemical, I suppose this is my choice.

i
 
B

bizby40

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ignoramus29226 said:
I am looking for something to give to my soon to be 6 year old nephew
for birthday (we'll pool money with my parents, so I would say the
budget is $100). I also keep in my my 4 year old for the future.

What we are thinking about is buying some sort of "science kit".

What I know from experience is that manufacturers learned that they
can get away with making complete CRAP that they pass for a "science
kit". These things never work, they simply are hoping that it would
be
collecting dust in some closet, which usually is the case. I had a
bad
experience with one such kit, which I returned.

So... Does anyone know of decent kits within that price range of
$100.

Either electrical or chemical, I suppose this is my choice.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000683A4/103-2195073-4561412

We love our Electronic Snap Circuits kit. It comes with a booklet
containing a lot of different experiments, it's sturdy, everything
organizes well in it's box, and everything literally snaps together.
My kids, 7 and 10, love it.

Bizby
 
X

xkatx

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ignoramus29226 said:
I am looking for something to give to my soon to be 6 year old nephew
for birthday (we'll pool money with my parents, so I would say the
budget is $100). I also keep in my my 4 year old for the future.

What we are thinking about is buying some sort of "science kit".

What I know from experience is that manufacturers learned that they
can get away with making complete CRAP that they pass for a "science
kit". These things never work, they simply are hoping that it would be
collecting dust in some closet, which usually is the case. I had a bad
experience with one such kit, which I returned.

So... Does anyone know of decent kits within that price range of $100.

Either electrical or chemical, I suppose this is my choice.

i

I'm not sure I can help much for something like this, but I know if I toss
together some wire, light switches, batteries, electrical tape, lights,
etc., and sit down with my son, he has a blast making little electrical
circuits and such, and it's cheap. You can make all types of little motors
and lights with circuits, and it's fun, very inexpensive and the fun does
last for a long time as there's so many different things you can do with a
few simple objects and materials.
For chemicals, I don't trust my 5 OR 6 year old with much more than
something like making home-made volcanos ;) My boys are destructive, messy
and basically your typical 5/6 year old boys. I have no suggestions there.
:(
 
T

Tim Wescott

Jan 1, 1970
0
xkatx said:
I'm not sure I can help much for something like this, but I know if I toss
together some wire, light switches, batteries, electrical tape, lights,
etc., and sit down with my son, he has a blast making little electrical
circuits and such, and it's cheap. You can make all types of little motors
and lights with circuits, and it's fun, very inexpensive and the fun does
last for a long time as there's so many different things you can do with a
few simple objects and materials.
For chemicals, I don't trust my 5 OR 6 year old with much more than
something like making home-made volcanos ;) My boys are destructive, messy
and basically your typical 5/6 year old boys. I have no suggestions there.
:(
And if you want to get all that electrical stuff in a little box with a
booklet, go with http://www.shop.com/op/aprod-p37124066?sourceid=235 --
you'll have to buy 6 of them to get up past $100, though.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Posting from Google? See http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google/
 
I

Ignoramus29226

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm not sure I can help much for something like this, but I know if I toss
together some wire, light switches, batteries, electrical tape, lights,
etc., and sit down with my son, he has a blast making little electrical
circuits and such, and it's cheap. You can make all types of little motors
and lights with circuits, and it's fun, very inexpensive and the fun does
last for a long time as there's so many different things you can do with a
few simple objects and materials.
For chemicals, I don't trust my 5 OR 6 year old with much more than
something like making home-made volcanos ;) My boys are destructive, messy
and basically your typical 5/6 year old boys. I have no suggestions there.

Thanks, as far as I am concerned, you are right and I made some toys
with wires, etc. Here, though, I am loking for a present for my
nephew.

I cannot really ship them a bunch of solid state relays, resistors,
ICs, scrounged wires, terminals and a crimper, and call it a birthday
present. :)

i
 
U

user

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am looking for something to give to my soon to be 6 year old nephew
for birthday (we'll pool money with my parents, so I would say the
budget is $100). I also keep in my my 4 year old for the future.

What we are thinking about is buying some sort of "science kit".

What I know from experience is that manufacturers learned that they
can get away with making complete CRAP that they pass for a "science
kit". These things never work, they simply are hoping that it would be
collecting dust in some closet, which usually is the case. I had a bad
experience with one such kit, which I returned.

So... Does anyone know of decent kits within that price range of $100.

Either electrical or chemical, I suppose this is my choice.

Not science, as such, but I LOVE Make Magazine:

http://www.makezine.com/

Projects ranging from how to build water rockets to hacking computer
mice to make line-following robots. And it's relatively cheap, too.
Many of the projects are suitable for small kids.

I'm a much bigger fan of the "Learn about the world with junk
you have at hand" approach, than using pre-packaged kits. Make
Magazine fits that bill.

The projects tend towards mechanics and electronics, so it
may be more suitable for the budding applied, rather than
theoretical, physicist. ;-)

- Rich
 
J

Jeanne

Jan 1, 1970
0
xkatx said:
For chemicals, I don't trust my 5 OR 6 year old with much more than
something like making home-made volcanos ;) My boys are destructive, messy
and basically your typical 5/6 year old boys. I have no suggestions there.
:(

Last weekend, DD and her friend "experimented" with a 2-liter bottle of
soda (we found that root beer worked best) and rolls of mentos. Better
than a volcano.

Jeanne
 
R

RoyJ

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have used these extensively. They are great kits but are too heavy
duty for a 6 year old. $199 price tag.
 
T

Too_Many_Tools

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ig,

When electronic kits come to mind, I always think of Radio Shack.

You will see that they have several available.

You can also check Ebay (you do know about Ebay, don't you? ;<) ) where
one can pick up the earlier versions of those kits along with other
kits from other vendors.

A suggestion...I would combine that gift with some quality time with
his special uncle...when you are a kid there is nothing to match the
feeling that some adult cares enough to spend quality time with you.

Good luck and let us know what the lucky little kid will be getting.

TMT
 
D

DJ Delorie

Jan 1, 1970
0
Too_Many_Tools said:
When electronic kits come to mind, I always think of Radio Shack.

Likewise. I got my son one a few years ago (he was 8), and we all use
it for various things (my daughter used it to prototype her science
fair project, for example, and I used it to build an eeprom reader for
my PC). We got the "Electronics Learning Lab", which has a protoboard
surrounded by springs and two Forrest Mims project books (one analog,
one digital).
 
M

martin griffith

Jan 1, 1970
0
Last weekend, DD and her friend "experimented" with a 2-liter bottle of
soda (we found that root beer worked best) and rolls of mentos. Better
than a volcano.

Jeanne
Ultimate WMD....... Must be a way to make it more organised, magnetic
release into the fluid on a sealed bottle, maybe



martin
 
W

Wayne Cook

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am looking for something to give to my soon to be 6 year old nephew
for birthday (we'll pool money with my parents, so I would say the
budget is $100). I also keep in my my 4 year old for the future.

What we are thinking about is buying some sort of "science kit".

What I know from experience is that manufacturers learned that they
can get away with making complete CRAP that they pass for a "science
kit". These things never work, they simply are hoping that it would be
collecting dust in some closet, which usually is the case. I had a bad
experience with one such kit, which I returned.

So... Does anyone know of decent kits within that price range of $100.

Either electrical or chemical, I suppose this is my choice.

For that age I feel that electrical mechanical gets more attention.
My daughter liked the following (as did I when I was a kid).

http://thetoyhunt.com/geo5005.html

Not super durable but durable enough to work well if not abused.
Lots of possibilities with many different gear boxes to allow lots of
experimentation. The biggest problem is getting them to keep up with
all the parts.
 
T

Too_Many_Tools

Jan 1, 1970
0
I second the Capsela kits....excellent kits to teach mechanical
concepts.

Got a few of them myself...LOL

TMT
 
K

Kryten

Jan 1, 1970
0
I cannot really ship them a bunch of solid state relays, resistors,
ICs, scrounged wires, terminals and a crimper, and call it a birthday
present. :)

If they don't see potential Tesla coils, electromagnets, radios, etc then
perhaps it's not really their calling.

I think what gave me the buzz as a kid was to imagine things I'd like to
make, then go scrounging for the bits, then make something that might work -
or not. Even if it did not, I'd have learnt what doesn't work and why.

Why not spend time talking with them about a crazy thing to make, then have
a scavenge round junk yards, and pull things to bits for parts. Taking
things apart is like a dissection lesson but less yukky.

For inspiration, try watching the shows by Tim Hunkin. He made a series of
short programs with titles like "The Secret Life of Washing Machines"
showing how common gadgets worked. One time he made a huge digital clock by
using an ordinary clock to switch on strip lights instead of LED segments.

How about making an animated water feature using electrically automated
valves from old washing machines?

Or an elaborate automated sculpture using old electric motors?
 
M

Mike Henry

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ignoramus29226 said:
I am looking for something to give to my soon to be 6 year old nephew
for birthday (we'll pool money with my parents, so I would say the
budget is $100). I also keep in my my 4 year old for the future.

What we are thinking about is buying some sort of "science kit".

What I know from experience is that manufacturers learned that they
can get away with making complete CRAP that they pass for a "science
kit". These things never work, they simply are hoping that it would be
collecting dust in some closet, which usually is the case. I had a bad
experience with one such kit, which I returned.

So... Does anyone know of decent kits within that price range of $100.

Either electrical or chemical, I suppose this is my choice.

Check out Fischer-Technik - usually several listings on Ebay or you can but
the newer sets retail. The older sets seem a little neater to me. Most of
them are probably a bit over his head but you might start with some of the
simpler ones and move as he gets older.

Mike
 
I

Ignoramus29226

Jan 1, 1970
0
If they don't see potential Tesla coils, electromagnets, radios, etc then
perhaps it's not really their calling.

I think what gave me the buzz as a kid was to imagine things I'd like to
make, then go scrounging for the bits, then make something that might work -
or not. Even if it did not, I'd have learnt what doesn't work and why.

I think that to imagine this stuff, one needs to get some basic
understanding of how electricity or other things, work.
Why not spend time talking with them about a crazy thing to make, then have
a scavenge round junk yards, and pull things to bits for parts. Taking
things apart is like a dissection lesson but less yukky.

He lives far from me.
For inspiration, try watching the shows by Tim Hunkin. He made a series of
short programs with titles like "The Secret Life of Washing Machines"
showing how common gadgets worked. One time he made a huge digital clock by
using an ordinary clock to switch on strip lights instead of LED segments.

How about making an animated water feature using electrically automated
valves from old washing machines?

Or an elaborate automated sculpture using old electric motors?

I would like to make a toy water powered electric generator...

i
 
i, AFTER you get a decent pre-packaged kit (which is a good idea)..
there comes the usual downfall of BATTERIES.

For some of my Grandchildren, and for several elementary school
projects, I have used the Zero-Cost approach of the "Old PC Power
Supply". The kid can plug this in and never run out of batteries, for
stationary projects anyway. You get this:

5 volt DC power at several amps
12 volt DC power at several amps
-12 volt DC power (Only needed for some electronics experiments)
Runs from 120V 60 Hz OR 220V 50HZ (usually has a small switch to
change 120-240)


Short-Circuit protection! WHEN you short out an output, the supply
turns off. Turn it off and back on again. So this is quite "Safe"
unless you put just-the-right small wire across the supply and have it
heat up....

Minor Challenges:

- You need to have some minimum LOAD on the +5 supply for the power
supply to work with no PC attached. A small 6 volt or 12 volt
automobile tail light bulb is good, and tells you "It's ON!". I have
also used a cool "Side Marker Light" that is has a small case and a
yellow lens, that was cheap at Wal-Mart. NOTE: 5V on the 12V bulb is
not too bright, but works). OR you can mount a 10 Ohm 10 Watt resistor
(Radio Shack) inside the power supply case. Of course, the FAN runs,
so the kid knows it's on when he/she goes to bed...

- You need to have some easy way for the kid(s) to attach things to the
"right" output connections. The best thing is to add some large
TERMINALS that you can arrange on a small board or on the chassis of
the supply, and LABEL THEM. Tape all those "extra" wires into a big
lump with electrical tape.

My favorite "Power Panel" is a piece of 1/8" wallboard with the shiny
white surface, used in cheap bathroom makeovers. Comes in big sheets,
but look for the cheap one with the corner broken! Easy to drill holes
for terminals, pilot lihhts etc. AND they are great for
marking: Permanent marker for power connection labels. And, It's a
White Board! Use those dry-erase markers for experiment labels. That
same wallboard makes great "experiment" or "Switch" panels. Use the
dry erase markers to draw the circuits, then hook them up with the
alligator-clip leads. You get the idea.

Here are a couple of pointers to examples:
http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/powersupply.htm
http://reckerclub.tripod.com/id105.html
...and more if you Google "use old pc power supply"

Suggestion: Get a package of those "Alligator clip leads" at Radio
Shack for the kids to connect up some small 12 volt bulbs, switches
etc.

Anyway, this way the "Batteries" never run out...

Regards, Terry King ...On The Mediterranean in Carthage
 
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