Computers for children

Tony Duell said... | |> IN ADDITION, a more minimal machine for studying the computer itself. |> (maybe one of those ZX81 kits? And some bulbs to connect in series and |> parallel. Surely an 8 year old should be ready to solder!) | |I don't know if this is a joke or not, but FWIW when I was 8, I was quite |happy with a soldering iron. I don't know that all 8 y/os have the coordination to solder, and some won't have the patience. I'd start with plugboards or spring-based kits at first, to get them interested if the latter is a problem. Others wil need close supervision because of that attention thing, or a tendancy to experiment a little too much (``now why did Dad and Mom say I should keep this away On the other hand, 9 or 10, I had discovered that my woodworking iron also made a great soldering and desoldering iron. -Miles