I thought my son would enjoy the STEM toys from Technology Will Save Us, so I was thrilled when they offered me two kits. As soon as they arrived, my son wanted to build the DIY Gamer Kit in which you build your own remote control. We opted for the version with the parts already soldered in as my husband thought soldering might be too dangerous for our 10-year-old son.
My son looked for the instructions in box and was puzzled not to find any. Instead, he figured out that he needed to go to their website to watch video tutorials.
After watching a short video, he rummaged around my husband’s office and found tools and a 9V battery. He only needed a multi-sized screwdriver to assemble the kit.
It takes about twenty minutes to put the remote control device together. I think my son did not follow the video tutorials very carefully because …
He finished the project and it didn’t work. That’s because he accidentally omitted this critical piece.
It was an easy fix the next morning. Now that his DIY Remote Control for Arduino is working, he can use it to program a few simple computer games like Flappy Bird and Snake. I don’t think he’s figured out how to make the DIY Gamer work so I’ll have to point out how to code his gamer device by installing the free Arduino software operating system and then he can download the games provided as well as program his own games.
The DIY Gamer Kit is $80 but I found it for $44. Click on image below to examine at Amazon.
This is not a compensated post, however I did receive the DIY Gamer Kit from Technology Will Save Us to review it. My opinions (and my son’s) are ours, as usual.
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of DIY Gamer Kit.
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BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
It’s nice that you challenge your kids with STEM toys they can actually use. Admire what you share with your kids.
Thanks so much Patricia! My son really likes doing science experiments so now I am trying to provide more of that at home for him to get him off screens!
What a neat kit! I did soldering in 6th grade (so a bit older than your son) and LOVED it.
Hi MaryAnne,
My son wants to learn to solder too! It does look fun!
its sounds interesting.. 🙂 :)soldering in 6th grade itself. 😀 😀 luv it……….. 🙂
Hi Sneha,
My son would have loved to solder but I got the kit with the pieces already soldered in.