Thames & Kosmos Electronics Workshop 1

Kids' Sci-Fi Circuit Board Promises a Nerdier Tomorrow

Wish your child could grow up to be a 1337 hacker or belle of the Maker Faire? There's no better way to set them up for a life of schoolyard taunts and ultimate IPO riches than a supercool electronics kit. This clever update on a classic educational toy comes with a 68-page manual that reads like a science fiction novel. Kids (10 and up) follow the story of a young robot on a giant space station and help him by building things the colony needs. The sequence of 148 projects starts with simple circuits, like one that controls an LED, and graduates to devices like alarms, radios, and synthesizers, illustrating basic concepts along the way. When they finally create their first duo-transistor NAND gate (the cornerstone of all things digital), budding propellerheads are awarded the rank of Space Electronics Assistant First Class. The kit makes technology fun and inspires youngsters to build their dreams.

• Type: For kids
• Manufacturer: Thames & Kosmos
• Price: $110