Book to explain electronics to a 6 year old

esuhl

I have bought my smart 6-year-old nephew a simple snap-together electronics kit for Christmas. He'll have lots of supervision.

But I've been trying to find a book that explain the basics about electricity (current, voltage, circuits, electron flow), and what electronic components do (resistor, diode, fuse, capacitor, etc.).

I've been looking for ages (and running out of time now!). Can anyone suggest a fairly simple book that might help?

Cheers. :-)

agrinnall

How about this?

http://www.alibris.co.uk/Electronics-for-Kids-Play-with-Simple-Circuits-and-Experiment-with-Electricity-Ryvind-Nydal-Dahl/book/34431934

And this for electricity basics.

http://www.alibris.co.uk/Making-a-Circuit-Chris-Oxlade/book/18164904

esuhl

I think the first one might be a bit too advanced, but the second one looks like it might be ideal. I can't seem to find any reviews or previews, though. :-/

paddyrg

Is there anyone/anything that will match the snap-together kit? Just to cober the conceptual gap between the kit and the components on the kits? Different books won't use the kit's (possibly preassembled units?) same terms and interfaces, so may confuse rather than assist

esuhl

paddyrg wrote: »

Is there anyone/anything that will match the snap-together kit? Just to cober the conceptual gap between the kit and the components on the kits? Different books won't use the kit's (possibly preassembled units?) same terms and interfaces, so may confuse rather than assist

I don't think so. At his age, I doubt he'll understand how the circuits work (other than the basic one with a lightbulb and switch), even if he did learn about capacitors and so on.

I just thought there might be something that gives him a bit of an inkling that what he's doing isn't just some kind of random magic, but explains what components do at a really basic level -- more basic than the kit itself, I suppose.

iammumtoone

OP can I ask where you got it from I never knew such a thing existed, I think my son would like it, he really enjoyed a kit we made at a show what involved soldering, but I wouldn't trust him with that at home :eek:

If you can't find a book for what you are after maybe googling for explanations for his age and printing out the pages to make into a booklet yourself.

mrlee

Not the OP but the John Adams Hot Wires set is really good (although not cheap - we got it about 3 years ago & the price is very similar to now) I've linked the instruction manual below, although you get a paper copy in the set. This gives the basics of components etc as you make each experiment. Not much use as a stand alone book though...

https://www.johnadams.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/HOT-WIRES-Instructions.pdf

esuhl

^^ Yup, that's the kit I bought. Maybe the manual will be enough.

getmore4less

It can be a good idea to combine the basics of electromagnetics with other real life circuits like fluids.

Some of the concepts are easier to understand in a physical realm.

bluesnake

at 6 i think the way to go is scalectix, or an electric train, as it gives basic circuit fundamentals, voltages and fault finding ac/dc and the kid see it all even though it may not be completely relatable at that age.

Also copper plating metals and electrolysis using the scaletrix/train transformer would also help.

Other things as they get more advanced are simple tactile projects like http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Stylophone/

bsod

wait a few years, you'll be lucky if they play with it for two minutes at six.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simple-Electronics-Learnabout-G-C-Dobbs/dp/0721405355