Kiko.893. Just call her (or him--it’s unclear and we don’t like to ask) “Kiko” because “893” is her last name. Using just a screwdriver and side cutters, you build Kiko from this 107-piece S.T.E.M. kit. Set the mode for “Follow Me” or “Explore,” and Kiko will, yes, track you, or evade obstacles, respectively, via an infrared sensor and micro-controller programming. Interactive LEDs and sounds abound. Measures approx 5" x 5-1/2" x 6-1/2" when assembled with all (6) legs. You add (4) “AA”s for power, which is the least you can do for someone this cute. Ages 8+.

A good basic kit with everything you need to build a very simple crystal radio. This is not hi-tech hi-fi. Geared for ages eight and up, it is a complete kit with wonderfully straight forward instructions which walk the experimenter through hooking up tuning needle, crystal diode, and earphone, and experimenting to find useful antennas. Excellent education, recreation and discovery device all at the same time. A simple kit with hours of fun in it.

Cool kit to introduce the beginner (age 10+) to the fabulous world of electronics. You will learn the basics of putting together circuits through over 50 projects building actual devices like an alarm, a radio, a metal detector and much more. The simple but complete instructions explain voltage, current resistance etc. This kit from Elenco is a giant "breadboard" with wires that can be connected to form the circuits as explained in the instructions…and all without soldering! A fabulous educational item at a fabulous surplus price!!

with our best selling electronics kit. Build 100 or more electronic projects from a Reflection Detector to a Simple Salt Water Alarm with Snap Circuits Jr. The Elenco kit, a Dr. Toy Winner, has a grid base and a selection of conductors, resistors, switches, integrated circuits and more, for a total of (30) color-coded snap-in parts. For ages 8 to 108, the easy-to-use components and well-designed instruction manual make this a perfect way to spend some quality time with a bright young child! AWARDS: The National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products, Dr Toy Best Educational Products.

See our full line of Elenco Snap Circuits here! Click 

For pre-soldering-age kids with electronic interests (and maybe an artistic bent), this swell kit has hunks of conductive clay in orange, black, green and blue plus some ordinary white clay for insulation. Includes (20) assorted blue, yellow, green and white LEDs, a battery holder and a 52-page book for making (15) projects, although they’ll just be a start. You add a quartet of “AA” batteries and an inventive kid.

Electronics fans, musicians and budding Sci-Fi sound engineers will love this little starter electronics kit for making a mini version of a theremin, the venerable capacitance-based instrument that’s synonymous with eerie sounds. This one skips the volume antenna, but has a quantization mode as well as a continuous swoop via the pitch antenna. You add a 9V battery and some minimal soldering skills. Includes all parts, including IC sockets. Measures 2” square, and includes excellent instructions. You might want to get a little project box for it. Made in the USA for Madlab/Velleman.

The vegetable- or fruit-powered clock never gets old. You get (2) copper and (2) zinc electrodes, 4" x 1/8", a couple of pieces of wire and a little 1-1/8" dia LCD clock. You don't add any batteries, just bring a lemon, lime, grapefruit, potato, kiwi, strawberries (or some cola if you're not a healthy eater) and time is on your side.

Our electronic MadLab bagpipe kit will slip into your shirt pocket or sporran. No plaid lower garments required, and, as usual, undergarments are up to you. This nice starter electronics kit has a transistor-based oscillator and 8-position stylus-activated “keyboard.” Output is via a piezo disc. Minimal soldering skills needed, and assembly should take under an hour. Add a 9V battery for power and you’ll be thrown out of class, or recruited into battle, within the first six notes.

When is a toy not a toy? When you can have fun with a kid, and build a digital voice recorder at the same time. If the young Tom Edison had had one of these kits, your grandparents' lives would have been a lot easier. Elenco's Pro Model SC-750 is a Dr. Toy winner, from their Snap-Circuits" series. Has over (80) parts to snap (no soldering) into a grid and learn electronics while building an AM or FM radio, digital voice recorder, burglar alarm, doorbell, and electronic games, among over 750 experiments, including solar, electromagnetism, and computer-interfaced applications. For ages 8 up to adult, it includes a well-written, graphically illustrated instruction manual. AWARDS: The National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products, Dr Toy Best Educational Products.

An advanced kit compared to the others, a little more deluxe and a little more complicated. It is an AM/FM radio kit from Elenco with over 80 pieces divided into lesson groups. PC board shows component placement to help learning and to minimize errors. It has (14) transistors and (4) diodes and the case measures 11"x 5"x2-1/4" Soldering required.

Electronic fun with just a hint of soldering from Madlab. You pick: the lie detector kit, with a PC board and components, or the LED logic game with diodes and transistors that pit your skill against moving a peg along (36) pads. You should be able to assemble either kit in under an hour with a little light soldering. You add a 9V battery to both. Soldering iron not included. But we have one, and it’s item #88242 for $6.95.

See what you're saying? This basic sound-to-light kit from Velleman® has (4) red, high-intensity LEDs that react simultaneously to every sound in a square rather than the traditional bar graph. Use it for plain old fun--like "watching music"--or something more practical, like aiding the hearing impaired by making the lights indicate when the telephone or doorbell is ringing. Adjustable sensitivity for sound versus light, and comes with a built-in microphone. You add a 9V battery and a case if you want one. Requires minimal soldering skills.

Electronic fun is easy with this Arcade kit from the award-winning Snap Circuits® line. Makes (203) sound-, light- and motion-related projects, and includes, along with a lot of other sub-circuits, a programmable fan, alarm, 2-digit numerical display, disco motor and micro-controller that can be programmed for (21) games. You add (3) "AA" batteries and a player 8 or older.

Just what can solar power…power? Find out with RobotiKits 6 In 1 Educational Solar Kit that comes with one solar module and one gear box, and 21 snap-together plastic parts. No tools required. Build 6 different solar-powered models (windmill, revolving plane, airboat, plane, car, solar puppy) or one of your own. Assembled units are roughly 4" across, in varying heights. For age 10 and up.

Snap Circuits® (by Elenco®) does it again, this time with light, although the (182) projects also feature the interplay of light with sound. Projects include color organs, strobes, IR detection, LEDs, color spectrums, motor control, photo resistor and transistors. You can even plug your audio player into some projects. CJ, our Senior Light & Sound Boffin, called it "an enchanting rainbow of scientific theory wed to practice, with fun in the bargain," but he talks like that sometimes. For ages 8 and way up, it has over (55) parts and yes, they will play well with other Snap Circuit® components.

Check out our incredible full line of snap circuits here. 

When is a toy not a toy? When you can have fun with a kid, and build a digital voice recorder at the same time. If the young Tom Edison had had one of these kits, your grandparents' lives would have been a lot easier. Elenco's Pro Model SC-500 is a Dr. Toy winner, from their Snap-Circuits" series. Has over (75) parts to snap (no soldering) into a grid and learn electronics while building an AM or FM radio, digital voice recorder, burglar alarm, doorbell, and electronic games, among over 500 experiments. For ages 8 up to adult, it includes a well-written, graphically illustrated instruction manual.

AWARDS: The National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products, Dr Toy Best Educational Products.

if you want to sound like a steam engine, and who among us doesn't? This Velleman® steam-engine sound generator kit comes with circuit board, components, battery connectors, speaker and instruction sheet. You add solder, a soldering iron and a 9V battery. Volume and (implied) speed are adjustable and there's a horn button, so it'll go both choo-choo and whoo-whoo. Great for train hobbyists or people bored with their doorbell.

Yet another great Snap Circuits® kit, this one based on lighting and optics, with a bonus 3-dimensional circuit board. Includes (50) parts and over (150) projects. Special components include an infinity mirror; red, green, blue and white LEDs; 6-way gel wheel; photoresistor; and a diffusion lens. Parts compatible with all other Snap Circuits® kits, too.