Educational Electronics Projects for Kids
The world of electronics is interesting to people of all ages. It’s not uncommon for kids to show an interest in how things work, including electrical devices, from a relatively early age. There are many different types of DIY electrical projects that are designed specifically to give kids the opportunity to work with simple electrical components. By working some of the more simple projects, kids can be taught many of the basic, necessary skills such as soldering. For the early beginner there are also some projects which can be completed without any soldering at all. Here are a few of the more popular projects for kids.
Flashing LEDs
Making your own flashing LEDs can be a lot of fun and makes a really good first project for kids. There is minimal soldering so they will need adult instruction and supervision for this task. Using 9 LED lights, a piece of strip board, a battery holder and a couple of double A batteries is all that is needed. They may need some help trimming wires or with the soldering but the rest of the project can be completed by the child. LEDs are placed in rows on a strip board and soldered into place. Then the power supply is added to make the lights work. This is a great Saturday afternoon project since it is not time consuming or difficult.
Altoids Tin Flashlight
There are tons of electronic projects which use an Altoids tin and this one is simple enough for a child or beginner. There is a little bit of soldering and drilling required so they will need some assistance and supervision. They may also need a hot glue gun with glue sticks. Using a couple of clear 5mm LEDs, LED holders, 2 100 Ohm resistors, a battery holder and a toggle switch is all that is needed along with the Altoids tin. Holes are drilled for the placement of the lights, and they are hooked up to the resistors. A switch is hooked up to the battery and soldered into place. This is all placed inside an Altoids tin so that a portable flashlight is finished.
USB Charger
Even kids use iPhones and iPods today and having their own portable USB charger can be very convenient. This is another project that uses an Altoids tin for the housing. There is some light soldering and minimal cutting that has to be done so they will require adult supervision. All that is needed to make the portable charger is a 5V voltage regulator, female USB port, toggle switch, a battery clip and 9V battery and some electrical wire. The voltage regulator will need to be pinned properly and wires soldered into place. Holes will need to be cut in the Altoids tin for the USB port and the switch. The batteries, USB port and all the components fit nicely inside the tin and the completed project is the perfect size for a carry along charger for all your electronic devices. It is not powerful enough to charge larger devices such as an iPad, but it works great for charging MP3 players like an iPod.
Torch Light for Kids
For those who want a simple DIY project for kids making a torch light is the perfect fit. It is fun to do and simple enough for the child to perform the necessary tasks with only minimal help or supervision. There is small amount of simple soldering and cutting wires and smaller children may need assistance. This is one of the best projects for kids just beginning to explore the world of electronics. Most of the items needed for this project are likely located around the house, or are very easy to come by. They include an LED, a current limiting resistor, 9V battery clip, soldering iron and solder and some wire cutters. The wires on the LED are trimmed and the LED attached to the resistor and soldered together. Then the circuit is connected to the 9V power supply. This is the most critical step as it must be done correctly for the light to work. Once the light and resistor are attached to the battery clip the battery is put in place. This is a fun project which does not take a lot of time to complete.
Flashing LEDs
Making your own flashing LEDs can be a lot of fun and makes a really good first project for kids. There is minimal soldering so they will need adult instruction and supervision for this task. Using 9 LED lights, a piece of strip board, a battery holder and a couple of double A batteries is all that is needed. They may need some help trimming wires or with the soldering but the rest of the project can be completed by the child. LEDs are placed in rows on a strip board and soldered into place. Then the power supply is added to make the lights work. This is a great Saturday afternoon project since it is not time consuming or difficult.
Altoids Tin Flashlight
There are tons of electronic projects which use an Altoids tin and this one is simple enough for a child or beginner. There is a little bit of soldering and drilling required so they will need some assistance and supervision. They may also need a hot glue gun with glue sticks. Using a couple of clear 5mm LEDs, LED holders, 2 100 Ohm resistors, a battery holder and a toggle switch is all that is needed along with the Altoids tin. Holes are drilled for the placement of the lights, and they are hooked up to the resistors. A switch is hooked up to the battery and soldered into place. This is all placed inside an Altoids tin so that a portable flashlight is finished.
USB Charger
Even kids use iPhones and iPods today and having their own portable USB charger can be very convenient. This is another project that uses an Altoids tin for the housing. There is some light soldering and minimal cutting that has to be done so they will require adult supervision. All that is needed to make the portable charger is a 5V voltage regulator, female USB port, toggle switch, a battery clip and 9V battery and some electrical wire. The voltage regulator will need to be pinned properly and wires soldered into place. Holes will need to be cut in the Altoids tin for the USB port and the switch. The batteries, USB port and all the components fit nicely inside the tin and the completed project is the perfect size for a carry along charger for all your electronic devices. It is not powerful enough to charge larger devices such as an iPad, but it works great for charging MP3 players like an iPod.
Torch Light for Kids
For those who want a simple DIY project for kids making a torch light is the perfect fit. It is fun to do and simple enough for the child to perform the necessary tasks with only minimal help or supervision. There is small amount of simple soldering and cutting wires and smaller children may need assistance. This is one of the best projects for kids just beginning to explore the world of electronics. Most of the items needed for this project are likely located around the house, or are very easy to come by. They include an LED, a current limiting resistor, 9V battery clip, soldering iron and solder and some wire cutters. The wires on the LED are trimmed and the LED attached to the resistor and soldered together. Then the circuit is connected to the 9V power supply. This is the most critical step as it must be done correctly for the light to work. Once the light and resistor are attached to the battery clip the battery is put in place. This is a fun project which does not take a lot of time to complete.