Gifts for young makers

Guide by Lisa Roberts from We Love Technology

Yes yes we know there is so much to do online, on tablets on TV but it’s time to put your hands to work, drag your eyes from the screen and reap the rewards from making.

Before you go to bloody ToysRUs to feel crap, double your making hours with your kids using stuff at home, or even give vouchers so the lucky recipient will get a better deal in the sales.

Here are a few ideas on how to encourage the young makers in your life…do feel free to add more ideas in the comments box below (hyperlinks are great but we will need to moderate those so don’t panic if your suggestion doesn’t show immediately!)

1978 Speak and Spell Texas Instrument
Open up a world of circuit bending…In fact buy an old game boy while you are there. Look online for support in hacking. New sounds from old toys just like the Modified Toy Orchestra, who we really must bring to Leeds .

Makershed- remember the old Spirograph? Well this looks like more fun. Spinbot kit

Drawdio: A pencil that lets you draw with music made by the one and only queen of hack Lady Ada.

 

KANO is a computer anyone can make (donate now to make sure you get one at all) There’s a special Christmas offer for other stuff but it’s already running out fast. Move fast.

Raspberry Pi
Revolutionary min pc the size of a credit-card that plugs into your TV and a keyboard. 2 Million units have been shipped in less than a couple of years, and guess where from? Yes Element14 which is part of Premier Farnell in Leeds. Even more reason to buy one.

Scrap Stuff  Leeds annual membership
And only 6 quid a year! Leeds most brilliant space for creative reuse and play. They do good by collecting stuff from industry that might otherwise end up in landfill then offer it dead cheap to schools, communities, artists, makers, parents to go wild.

Sugru  is a new self-setting rubber that can be formed by hand. Perfect for fixing and Lego freaks in general.Put it in the fridge for long lasting freshness

Print your own tattoo designs
A4 sheet

Origami Calendar
One make a day

MyMakedo
£30 gets you plastic joints that will give you a lifetime of cardboard robot building joy Makedo or build something amazing like this…

¨¨¨¨¨____!_!____
¨¨¨¨¨_________/
____________/
_________< ♥♥♥ >
__________¯¯/¯
___________X✿X
___________X♥X
_______O__X(Ѽ)X__O
_______█_X*X✿*X_█
_______XX♥X(Ѽ)♥XX
___O__XX♥X✿X*X♥X*_O
___█_XX(Ѽ)X*X♥X✿X_█
___X*XX♥XX✿X(Ѽ)X*XXX
O__♥XXX✿XX♥XXX✿XXX*XXX_O
█_XX(Ѽ)♥X✿X(Ѽ)X♥X✿X*XX_█
XX✿XXX*XXXX✿XXX(Ѽ)XX✿XX
XX(Ѽ)XX✿X♥X(Ѽ)XXX✿X(Ѽ)XX
__________XXXXX

Look out for some fantastic maker events during 2014 March of the Robots by @playfulleeds