Snap Circuits Junior Set |
I picked up a Snap Circuits Junior kit online, and it is undeniably fun. This is like an erector set for electronics.
There are 101 experiments listed in the instruction manual, and I managed to run through most of the experiments over two nights of playing with it. I did come up with a few additional experiments of my own, and so will your child.
Project #6: Lamp & Fan in Parallel |
Children aren’t limited to what’s in the kit, and the instruction manual encourages using glasses of water, paperclips, and even your own body in experiments conducting electricity. So an inquisitive young mind will certainly try connecting other foreign parts into their designs.
I did experience on problem with the kit, as the “space war” component only worked erratically, and after much troubleshooting with the kids at Earth 383, we finally concluded that it was a dud. Luckily, individual parts may be ordered from the Elenco Website. I will first try to get a free replacement.
Project #92: Water Space War |
Although I nicknamed the toy “Baby’s First Breadboard,” this educational toy is for children “8 and Up.” At the same time, the Junior kit is too simple for anyone over the age of 12, and will only leave your teenager hungry for more components.
So if you can afford it, and you think your teenager would really take an shining to the possibilities Electrical Engineering holds in store for the inquisitive mind, I would recommend the Snap circuits Extreme for $85, which includes a solar panel, the ability to build a digital voice recorder, and computer interface applications.
Project #51: Reflection Detector |
I did enjoy the Junior model enough that I plan to purchase an Extreme kit as a stepping stone to eventually building my own breadboarding hobby kit.
Parents take note: If I had this toy when I was a kid, I would’ve had a much happier childhood.
A Word of Warning! The kit is not idiot proof. Your can wire the battery pack right back into itself, creating a short circuit, and quickly burn out some parts (but no fire hazard). Just like I’ve run a copper wire right back into a battery a have it heat up.