Teach Your Kids Electronics With Electronic Snap Circuits

My All-Time Favorite Electronic Snap Circuits

(Actually they're my son's favorites, but I enjoy them too!)

1. MX-909: A short review cannot do justice to this well-conceived, well-made, and endlessly fascinating "toy"--actually a complete electronics lab that could absorb weeks in the life of anyone over the age of ten who doesn't already have a degree in electronics. The 16-inch by 13-inch attaché case opens to reveal a 31-key programming keyboard and a bewildering array of connectors, switches, wires, transistors, diodes, and processors. At least they would be bewildering if it were not for three big books: Hardware Entry Course, Hardware Advanced Course, and Software Programming Course, which total about 300 dense pages detailing 500 projects (memory backups, car horn imitators, LED counters, ramp wave generators, you name it.) This bag of tricks can teach an immense amount about basic wiring, the properties of electricity, transmitters and receivers, programming, and much more. Six AA batteries required.
2. Snap Circuit Extreme: The SC-750 is packed with action, featuring more than 750 experiments including 73 computer-interfaced experiments. Young builders will learn about electromagnets, solar-powered experiments and vibration switches. Projects involve Strobe Lights, Transistor AM Radio, Electromagnetism and Rechargeable Battery. Kit contains over 80 parts. Requires 4 "AA" batteries, not included. My son was 8 yrs old when he received the Snap Circuits Jr. 100 set last Christmas. He enjoyed it so much, that for his 9th birthday, we got him the Snap Circuits Extreme 750 kit. He has never enjoyed a gift more! He is able to figure out the electronic projects usually all by himself. He wants to play with this set everyday! He even tries to sneak it to his bed and play with it at night (using the light bulb projects!) We are also helping him get started on the computerized projects as well. This was absolutely the best money ever spent on a toy for any of our sons!
3. Snap Circuit Pro with Computer Interface: Snap-Circuits from Elenco offer a wonderful introduction to the facinating world of electronics. Each component snaps to the next for a secure connection. An excellent manual clearly explains and diagrams each experiment. The SC-500s offers all of the same experiments as the SC-500 in addition to 73 more experiments designed for use with the Computer Interface Kit. The computer interface and software addition, included in this set allows you to see the wave forms created by different Snap-Circuits experiments through the use of an on-screen oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer. 73 additional experiments can be completed using the Computer Interface Kit and software. The interface cable plugs into your computer's microphone input jack.
4. Electronic Project Lab: NO TOOLS OR SOLDERING REQUIRED!These "Electronic Science Labs" will teach you about electronics from A to Z. With these all-in-one labs, you'll learn about electronic parts, how to read schematics, and wiring diagrams. All this while building up to 500 different projects. These kits use two quick and easy hook-up methods:Spring Method: Simply slip pre-cut wires and components into special springs for a safe, secure connection.Breadboard Method: Featured in our advanced kits, this system is used by professionals and engineers. Just plug the components and wires into the special breadboard socket holes.No soldering is required. Everything uses safe battery power - no dangerous AC is required, so it's safe for all ages. Labs come with all components and wires needed to build each project. NO TOOLS ARE REQUIRED. No prior knowledge is needed to assemble and build these exciting projects. Easy-to-read, illustrated, lab-style manuals take you through each electronic experiment step-by-step. All are designed for ages 10 & up, so these are ideal for MIDDLE SCHOOLS and HIGH SCHOOLS.Everything you need to build 300 Exciting Electronic Projects: Transistor Radio IC Organ Burglar Alarm Delayed Timer Electronic Game Optical Volume Multiplier Multiple Counter Digital Light Dimmer Tone Burst Generator Audio Signal Tracer Electronic Candle Voice Level Meter Metal Detector Rain Detector Voltage Drop Alarm Logic Checker Function Generator Voltage Controlled Amplifier Requires 6 "AA" batteries.
5. SC-500: I bought this as a 7th birthday gift for my son, who is the kind of kid who wants to know how everything works. It comes with the plastic board to build circuits on, many, many circuit pieces, and three books of projects. It's been almost a month, and he is using this, and I'm not exaggerating, 3 or more hours per day -- first thing in the morning, after school, before bed... he just loves it. He quickly moved from following directions in the book to trying to modify the circuits (what if I put the speaker on instead of the fan). He's starting to ask questions about what a resistor is, and such -- thankfully, the books have clear explanations.