How to encourage without costing me a fortune

Jet

My DS aged 13 is computer / electronics mad like a lot of kids.

However, he has already taken a few old (non working) computers apart is voluntarily working for a couple of hours a week in our local computer shop and is adamant he is going to become a games designer when he is older. He has bought himself several books on building PC's etc.

He keeps asking if he can have money for Xmas and birthday because he wants to build his own computer. Now, this is where I have a dilema - if I let him do this and it all goes wrong, it is going to completely knock his confidence and it could cost a LOT of money. DP and I are not experts on the working of computers so I am not confident I could help him very well. He could ask the people in the computer shop, but I doubt they will want to give up hours of their time to help him. I don't really want to say a blanket "no" because I also think that will knock his confidence because he might perceive I am telling him he is not capable (which I suppose is what I am doing, but he is only 13!)

What I think he really needs is a course of some sort to teach him some stuff, but I have no idea how to find something for him? I would rather spend money on this than computer parts, to be honest.

If anyone has any thoughts or ideas, I would be grateful.

shop-to-drop

I'm sure the people in the computer shop will help him it isn't a case of 'hours of time'. Think of it like putting together some flat packed furniture from Ikea.

zzzLazyDaisy

It is worth going on freecycle and asking if anyone has any pcs for spares or repair.

My friend's son taught himself this way. It doesn't have to be terribly expensive and it is a skill that could be very useful to him. Personally I think you'd be making a bigger mistake to trample on his dreams and enthusiasm.

*max*

I would give him what he wants, really. I'm sure he will be perfectly capable of buidling a computer, since he already has several books about it and a keen interest - don't underestimate his skills just because he's a young teenager. You would be surprised how much he knows I'm sure!

I wouldn't get him something off your own back, because you don't know much about it, it will likely not be what he would have chosen himself. Go on, trust him, he'll be fine! And grateful you believe in him too.

PS: you have a teenager with a keen interest in something here, you must have been doing something right! Lucky you!

JimmyTheWig

I presume that what he wants to do is buy a case, a motherboard, a processor, some RAM, a hard disk, etc and put them all together and make it work?
If that's the case then I agree with shop-to-drop that it's a reasonable thing to try.

Plenty of help available online (not least on this website) if the guys in the shop aren't interested. But if they're anything like the guys in the computer shop I used to work (a "proper" local computer shop, which this sounds like, rather than a box-shifting store like PC World) then I'd guess they;'d love to help.
Do you think your son would be happy to help someone eager to learn in 5 years time? I'm guessing yes, in which case the same will probably be true of the people he works with.

I do think that you need to cost it all with him before you start. Would be particularly annoying for him to buy some of the bits and then run out of money to finish it. Don't forget stuff like Windows, if that's what he wants on it.

Elle7

Honestly, it isn't very difficult to build a computer...(although saying that, I did blow my motherboard up by forgetting to earth it last time, and I've built quite a few! All that happened, though, was the fuse blew and turned all the lights off, and I had to buy another motherboard).

Are you and/or OH interested in computer building? You could buy a book and read through this with him (or use one he has already got if these go into detail)...or you could look for spares and let him play with these until you are sure he is competent enough to build a full PC with new parts.

MrsManda

Unless you have a major objection with the idea of giving him money rather than a gift I'd give him the cash and let him spend it on his hobby. When I was in school (admittedly quite a few years ago) a lot of my friends did what your son is now doing, spending their christmas/birthday money on computer bits, hanging around computer shops and generally fiddling.
His age isn't necessarily relevant, I had friends who started doing this kind of stuff in primary school.

Some of them found eventually it wasn't for them and moved on to something else and others have gone on to make a career out of it. But they all appreciated the chance to find out themselves.

Lara44

First of all some of the best learning comes from mucking things up!

It depends what a 'fortune' is for you, but I would encourage him like crazy. Not many kids have a passion like that and he has demonstrated his committment to it through the volunteer work.

universalady_2

Just wanted to say, how great you have a 13 year old son that is focussed on what he wants to do, and has plans for his future, a great credit to you

You never know, he could be the next Mark Zuckerberg

Jet

Thanks for all the replies. I do feel very proud of him and really want to encourage his dreams. He is very focussed but can be a bit negative and give up easily if things don't go right.

I do realise that I need to encourage this and if I spend a couple of hundred quid (others will add to this) for his birthday and Xmas and he wastes it on trying something, it really is better than someone who spends £200 on designer clothes. I think I need to change my mindset!

I am divorced from his Dad, but I have just text him to ask his opinions (I know DS has asked him for money for said project too), his Dad likes electronics too although he is a different generation and computers hadn't even been thought of when he was born. ;-) But he is also like DS and does get frustrated easily if things don't go well, so will be interesting to hear his views.

VestanPance

Building a PC is very simple. If the lad has an interest in it and is reasonably bright he should be able to build a machine of his own without any issues.

Just warn him that in doing so he'll become the PC repair man for everyone he knows. The curse of having any knowledge of IT.