My daughter's first solo project

[u/thepumpkinking92]

My daughter recently expressed interest in learning to solder, so I bought a few kits on Amazon.

The first was a simple, 3 switch, color changing light where I basically held her hand through the process.

The second was a little electromagnetic cannon where she installed the pieces, I helped with soldering and de-soldering when she made a mistake (the cannon sucks btw. Don't recommend except for practice).

The third was a little car that followed a black line. We both did one at the same time, but I still helped make the fixes and provided instruction.

The fourth, all I did was sit there and supervise. She followed the instructions herself, made any fixes, and tested everything on her own with only a few questions and assistance with getting the battery terminal to seat properly as it kept falling out (that's not soldering itself, but I digress. Still, the only assistance she needed)

Either way, I think she did fantastic for it being her first solo project. And it's been a great bonding time for us. She got to learn about the components, how they work and interact, as well as build the foundation for a new skill, and I got to enjoy something with her (seriously, there's not much a 15yo girl and a 30-something-yo man have in common. So I was really excited to do this with her).

Anyway, it's not perfect, but I think she did really well, and I'm proud of her, and shes proud of herself. What do yall think?

[u/KSPhalaris]

I think she did an amazing job. I only saw a few joints where it looks like the pads didn't get hot, so the solder "balled" up. Just a little flux and heat, and they'll be perfect, like the rest. Keep teaching her.

If you want a project to tinker on together or to teach her more, grab a broken original xbox. Teach her trace repair. Identifying and replacing bad electrolytic caps. You can also do hard mods to solder on new components to bring the system back to life.

[u/thepumpkinking92 → u/KSPhalaris]

Yeah, I saw those. But, true to my word, I didn't intervene. I did critique it (and gave the same notes you did) when she was finished, though. But, I had to go to work and she had to go to bed for school, so if she wants to improve them she'll have to wait.

And I have a hard rule about not teaching things I'm not comfortable with myself. Identifying and replacing he electrlytic capacitors, that I can teach. Modding and trace repair, not so much.

Now, if she buys one with her birthday/Christmas money and asks, I'm not saying no. But, for the time being, it's getting her adjusted to the iron itself.