Piper Build A Computer Kit

The Piper kit is very well made and has an intuitive build process complete with actual blueprints. My 10 year old daughter didn't require any assistance (although I sat nearby watching her, just because it was cool). In fact, I wasn't allowed to help. She made fast work of the build and kept saying out loud, "I can't believe I'm building an actual computer." and "I just can't believe I'm doing this." What I liked watching was that, although it was easy to build - it wasn't "too easy" because she actually needed to read each portion of the directions, which are very well designed and written. The quick start guide gives the kid the push they need: charge battery/ build it/ start rolling with the software. As a professional, I'm an Instructional Technology Designer (and jr. high teacher), so I'm hyper critical of products that have less than stellar directions for kids. The provided prompts and diagrams are excellent; my daughter was totally engaged and really loved the process. If there's a question on how to do something, the online support features are provided. My kid immediately got things online and began the programming adventure with great enthusiasm. I love that this kit utilizes the Raspberry Pi board - very expandable and there are TONS of fun experiments. The provided software has a look that echoes of Minecraft and will no doubt engage; it provides great tutorials/challenges along the way that requires her to "get her hands dirty" in terms of physical building/install and critical thinking. This product explores some of the more important early fundamentals of computing (binary/circuits/logic gates). The fact that she gets to build the computer frame with the provided hardware adds the kinesthetic magic that as a parent, I appreciate. Kids too often are only consumers of technology - the Piper makes them a producer of technology - Powerful and inspiring. Few tech products do what this cool kit can do, and I mean beyond teaching programming alone - but yeah, it does that too. Highly recommended - it's like a digital chemistry set.