Starter Christmas Gift for 13yr old

Zagato · 27-11-2013 3:59pm #1

I have 2 13yr old boys on my Christmas gift list, and thought I might try and get them a start up kit for basic circuitry/programming/prototyping.
As you can probably guess I'm not too knowledgeable in this area.

I saw basically wondering if people thought I should get them an Arduino kit or a Raspberry Pi kit. Looking to spend €60-80 each. Raspberry Pi seems more expensive but at least if they don't use it for what I intended, they can always use it to just stream media with Xbmc very easily.

Thoughts?

Chet T16 · 27-11-2013 4:16pm

For circuitry/programming/prototyping an arduino is by far the best way to go. By far!

The most important thing for them when starting out is that it will be interesting with good instructions that they can then build on. I would (and have on here before) highly recommend this kit

You will find cheaper kits with more stuff on ebay but without the proper guidance and support its nothing but a pile of bits.

Mr Bloat · 04-12-2013 1:36pm

Chet T16 wrote: »

For circuitry/programming/prototyping an arduino is by far the best way to go. By far!

The most important thing for them when starting out is that it will be interesting with good instructions that they can then build on. I would (and have on here before) highly recommend this kit

You will find cheaper kits with more stuff on ebay but without the proper guidance and support its nothing but a pile of bits.

I bought that kit last year to give me a grounding (bad-ump-tish!) in electronics and it's a brilliant kit. My 10 year old daughter is now using it and loves it too. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Johnboy1951 · 04-12-2013 2:00pm

I would be inclined to get one of each ....... Arduino and Pi

If they can cooperate they both would have the best of both worlds.

Chet T16 · 04-12-2013 5:41pm

Mr Bloat wrote: »

I bought that kit last year to give me a grounding (bad-ump-tish!) in electronics and it's a brilliant kit. My 10 year old daughter is now using it and loves it too. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

I absolutely love hearing about kids getting interested in things like this, or even just been given the opportunity. I hope i can get my two involved when they're bigger.

ZENER · 05-12-2013 10:23pm

At the age of 12 I was given a Ladybird book called Making a Transistor Radio. Mapped my entire future

The Raspberry Pi of 1978 ?

Ken

Sputnik · 09-12-2013 3:41pm

Also for a general intro to general electronics Make: Electronics is excellent:

http://www.amazon.com/Make-Electronics-Discovery-Charles-Platt/dp/0596153740

Johnboy1951 · 09-12-2013 5:18pm

ZENER wrote: »

At the age of 12 I was given a Ladybird book called Making a Transistor Radio. Mapped my entire future The Raspberry Pi of 1978 ?

Ken

In the early 80s I gave my two nephews big plastic (read cheap) fire engine and truck, that I had 'doctored' with flashing LEDs and sirens - battery powered. (yes in deference to their mother I added an on/off switch

)

One of them became an electronic engineer and the other an accountant .......

....... maybe I had more influence than I thought .....

Starter Christmas Gift for 13yr old

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