Reply With QuoteHot Wires.
Might be a bit on the young side but my twin boys (now 14) often get this out to play with on a rainy day.
Trying to avoid buying the children video games, or online tech such as phones, apps and consoles.
Looking for inspiration. Ideally in the 10 - 15 age range.
I was thinking of an orrery. It perhaps some binoculars. Or some Technics Lego. Or a synthesiser. But there is a risk it just sits there unused.
Ideally, something manual - board games might be good... but sometimes that degenerates into squabbling. Particularly if it's Monopoly and there are adults involved.
Any ideas would be gratefully received. Don't restrict yourself by budget - I'm hoping this thread might be useful for others as well. So it would be good to have examples of things that are cheap as well as more expensive.
Hot Wires.
Might be a bit on the young side but my twin boys (now 14) often get this out to play with on a rainy day.
Thanks Tenko.
Do they play it voluntarily or do you lockdown TV, video games and phones?
I'm working on the assumption that I will be locking access to devices over Christmas.
A kit where you build something - a clock, a radio receiver, one of those marble roller-coasters, etc.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CKB-LTD-Spa...%2C190&sr=8-14
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Robotime-Wo...s%2C190&sr=8-8
Teach them how to strip and rebuild an internal combustion engine. They will get skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Oh, wait ...
^Perfect, thanks SK.
At this rate, Christmas will be much easier.
Edit - HT, would love to do that. If I had a classic car of course. Tinkering in the garage does appeal.
The Lego sets that that’s to a place they may have been to are worth a shout?
Statue of Liberty - etc
Car kits are cool in the technics range but can be overwhelming for some
If you want to get them out and about and have some fun - my nephews and I have just started magnet fishing - great fun fir an outlay of £20
On that front a metal detector of worth could be a shout too
It will deorme in their own interests overall I guess but certainly history, geography etc all fall under the above
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Ah,,,the never ending questOriginally Posted by AlphaOmega
Build your own radio kit?
Robot arm kit? - did this a couple of years ago...nice thing was we did it together and he enjoyed it.
Driving lessons? - I kid you not. This company do them from quite a young age. I have purchased a couple of groups of lessons for my son and he absolutely loved it. My daughter now wants to do the same thing.I think it gives a good grounding as well.
Various other experience days such as a day with owls/hawks etc or indoor skydiving etc etc
My son is 15... a couple of years ago we wandered by a Warhammer shop and he wanted to have a look. If you go in they give you a free model to build there and then with them talking you through it. They have regular free painting,modelling and games play sessions. (Not sure how they are doing this at the moment with Covid though).
Anyhow,he took a shine to it and it gives him something else to concentrate on rather than ‘dit-dah’...the painting itself can be quite absorbing. It’s not cheap though!
https://www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk/product/chem-c3000/
I imagine the Thames & Kosmos site will be a rich seam for you. Have a browse.
Raspberry pi?
Maybe with some project in mind - (bedroom) burglar alarm, photographing wildlife, robotics, music etc.
Thanks. Like the idea of something we can do outside, Covid permitting.
Driving lessons sound very intriguing. I've taken him karting and he loved it, so that would be another step toward independence.Ah,,,the never ending quest
Build your own radio kit?
Robot arm kit? - did this a couple of years ago...nice thing was we did it together and he enjoyed it.
Driving lessons? - I kid you not. This company do them from quite a young age. I have purchased a couple of groups of lessons for my son and he absolutely loved it. My daughter now wants to do the same thing.I think it gives a good grounding as well.
Various other experience days such as a day with owls/hawks etc or indoor skydiving etc etc
My son is 15... a couple of years ago we wandered by a Warhammer shop and he wanted to have a look. If you go in they give you a free model to build there and then with them talking you through it. They have regular free painting,modelling and games play sessions. (Not sure how they are doing this at the moment with Covid though).
Anyhow,he took a shine to it and it gives him something else to concentrate on rather than ‘dit-dah’...the painting itself can be quite absorbing. It’s not cheap though!
Thanks SM. Not sure IIRC but did you have some expertise in forensics? I was thinking of whether we could have a day involved in archaeology or geological history. I realise this might not be the most dynamic area of interest.
I bought membership of The Royal Institution but Covid has quashed that for now.
That's a great idea as he's interested in coding.
No lockdown required, although turning off the broadband helps :)
At the very cheapest end of the scale - Mapominoes & Uno.
ROKR Pendulum Clock: Mechanical Gears Moving wooden 3D Puzzle model: Age 14 plu https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077GHFZ...ing=UTF8&psc=1
I got someone one of these, went down very well.
Nvm seems we are on the same page
13% off through to midnight Halloween - https://shop.pimoroni.com/collection...pi?filter=Kits
That's a great idea as he's interested in coding.
Last edited by petethegeek; 29th October 2020 at 17:36.
^Great stuff.
Thanks for the top notch ideas.
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