Hi, Xiaofan On Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 4:52 AM, Normand Fisher wrote: > I've seen many recommendations on how to teach electronics in this > forum but they were all geared towards more mature students. > > My 7-year old grand-daughter wants to learn electronics. The last > thing I want to do is to discourage her by using the wrong approach. > I'm not convinced that some kits labeled as suitable for a seven year > old are necessarily good for learning. They may be more about > playing. > >Last time it was popular to use AM radio kits (discrete components) as the learning tool. Simple kits with lights (LEDs) and sound are good for children. >On the other hand, it might be more fun to teach her programming on the PC. No need to meddle with soldering. I also bought a Parallax Robot for my son. It was the "round" one that has the space for a pen for drawning. The "language" to program it is pictorial. Again I tought it was a great idea and bought it. For the first few hours he was amazed at what the robot could do but he was not "mature" enough to make even very simple, "linear" programs. I will surely dig it from the box again when he turns 10 :-) Simulators also "take out" much of the fun of doing stuff work ! IMHO nothing will ever substitute the "pleasure" of "blinking" a LED :-) I am 40 and I still fell great every time I have a new board made and see the blinking LED there. :-) :-) :-) My main "doubt" is if childs before 10 years are "mature" enough and "concentrated" enough to learn electronics. Everytime my son asks me how anything works I take all the time to explain it to him at the best of my knowledge but I am afraid to "push" it at him. I think they are the ones that should have the "initiative" to ask for the knowledge. It we "force" it too much things get boring too fast, their "span of attention" is still too limited. IMHO. Best Regards, Alexandre Guimaraes -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist