<p>dmd - LOL. That’s sort of the problem I have! My kid (and his friend) built stuff in a 200-year old barn where I worried about fire constantly. At about 9 years old he mentioned that he knew how to solder! 
When we toured electronic engineering labs he looked at the circuitry stuff and proclaimed that he already knew all about them. The dad in that household is an elec eng, although I don’t think he was around that often, I think my son learned stuff from his kid.</p>
<p>I do recall he had a real cheap electronic thingee that I bought at BJ’s. He puttered with that for a LONG time. He also had the Mindstorms, but I think he “finished” them in rather short order (considering how expensive they were).</p>
<p>Anyway, I do feel compelled to give my nephews some safe stuff that they can figure out without my sister and sister-in-law hovering over them.</p>
<p>Thanks again everybody.</p>