Lilypad Sewable Learning Starter Kit Wearable E-Textile Cuttable Sewing

Stop the presses: did you know you can actually SEW a circuit?! It may sound like science fiction, but it's true!

I almost passed this kit by, since I figured at such an affordable price, it must require pairing with some fancier hardware I don't own. It sounded so cool, though, that I went back and read the description again. In fact, this kit includes all the essentials you need to start learning the strange and wonderful skill of sewing and programming your stitched circuits!

The instructions are impressively thorough, as befits the audience of the kit, but the projects still leave plenty of room for individual creativity. Each project is a category (e.g., "light-up mask") rather than a super-specific design, so you can keep it simple, or embellish it with your own supplies and imagination.

While this "choose your own adventure" approach may not appeal to everyone, its flexibility makes the kit usable and enjoyable by a wider variety of ages and sewing skill levels. And if you're not feeling creative, you can always just copy one of the examples pictured in the booklet.

This is a SUPER cool kit that will delight crafters and technophiles alike, and would make a terrific gift for the young (or not-so-young, but new to "e-sewing") maker in your life!

Getting kids excited about programming and STEM has never been an easy task, but this OSOYOO robot car is one of the best tools I've found for beginners to dive into coding. It’s easy to assemble, and comes with detailed video guides and a tutorial website to walk you through everything. A quick tip: if your child is very young, the Arduino IDE might be a bit challenging at first, so it's a good idea for parents to guide them through the learning process together

This is a fantastic starter kit for diving into electronic crafting with Lilypad boards. It includes all the materials you need for a few fun projects, like decorative masks or a plushie. The kit provides a variety of felt colors and templates, along with a detailed, full-color instruction booklet. The instructions are clear, well-written, and perfect for beginners. It’s Arduino-compatible, so you can easily program your creations, and there’s a QR code for more online resources. The best part? No soldering is necessary — the conductive thread does the trick! I’d recommend this for kids around 7 -10 who have some sewing experience, especially with a bit of help from an adult.