> the fact that kids are getting stupider. You don't *need* parents to
> explore how motors work. Or wind up some wire around some bolts, stick
> it on a wood rod, and watch it spin. Or hook up some discrete components
> to try and figure out what they do. One just needs curiosity. And that's
> not something that one can really teach...

I think you actually need your parents doing that, or at least,
showing their kids that. That was exactly how my father got me into
technical stuff and how I'm trying to show some first little bits to
my 4-year old son now. I had my soldering iron when I was about 7.
Kids can gain curiosity only if they see in their early age their
parents doing something interesting, whatever it is. Fixing kitchen
sink yourself instead of calling a plumber is a good start. My son is
watching those activities eyes wide open, and re-playing it later with
lego by himself.

> Incoming admin warning about going dangerously off topic in
> 3... 2... 1... ... .. .

This is directly linked to OP question. How to show kids something
interesting if kids have no interest in anything at all.
My son had some real fun when I tested my PIC-driven stepper driver.
All it did was moving itself along a M5 threaded rod according to
encoder position that I allowed him to turn.

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