Suggestions for a 10 year old's coding style christmas present

[Channel Hopper]

As per the title, I'm somewhat stumped on a suitable gift for a year 5 child that is already into coding a robot at school - DASH which is already last years tech and now beneath them.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wonder-Wor...9355&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=coding+robot&psc=1 , so I don't wish something similar for the home and looking around, there are none that look as though they might retain interest beyond the festive period.

Last years must have games were Tellagami, MyBoo and Pokemon, the last would at least get her out the house.

I already have Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards here with interfaces but they haven't generated much interest, if at all. Are there add on kits for somebody of this age ?

Main time spent when at home appears to be ;
Minecraft (as of late),
Programming (in Scratch) last year on the XP laptop.
Some - free - apps on a Galaxy Tablet but these are more arcade style games (Crossy Road/ hidden object / character dress up), I would be hesitant to pay for an app that might not update accordingly as she gains experience.

I do have a PS4 languishing about somewhere but I haven't checked so far to see if there are discs available that are computer education based.

A few children with interests in computing/coding from the school, including her have been invited to attend BETT 2019 next January

What’s on at Bett

but since this is the new year it's not helping me find something suitable.

Budget is around £100 for a complete hardware/software solution, somewhat less if it has to be books or a subscription to magazines.

She does have an interest in music (more keyboard) so I am looking for something about that enables composing, and/or setting up synthesiser functions to her own personal requirements.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Analoguesat]

How about helping her to set up a minecraft server from first principles for herself & keen friends??

Not coding as such but would get her into the wonderful arane black arts of windows setup, networking etc. It wouldnt need the latest & fastest computer & the minecraft downloads are free from MS

 

[Channel Hopper]

Interesting.

How do I wrap something like that up ?

 

[Analoguesat]

I havent the faintest idea

 

[Channel Hopper]

I posed the question after school, playing the 'game' is more interesting than knowing how it all works.

Then again, is this what you meant ?

Download server for Minecraft: Java Edition

 

[Analoguesat]

Kids............

 

[Channel Hopper]

Kids............

Yes. I'm also a bit confused about the BETT show, it all looks adult, the last commercial 'toy show' I attended was 'no kids allowed'

(she has mentioned that there is a Minecraft stand there.......)

 

[Analoguesat]

Then again, is this what you meant ?

Download server for Minecraft: Java Edition

Yup that was it

 

[Channel Hopper]

Oh dear, the other half has ordered a Nintendo 2DS after 'consultation' with sprog.

 

[Channel Hopper]

After more or less continuous play on the 2DS a message has flagged up asking to create a Nintendo Network ID.

All I can find outside the usual promo detail from Nintendo - What is a Nintendo Network ID? - is this

The Benefits of a Nintendo Network ID - GeekDad

I'm assuming if the correct date of birth is entered when creating (using the wifey's email address) it's going to cause all sorts of restrictions down the line, so what have others done in a similar situation ? Allegedly the WiiU and Switch have similar access requirements.

 

[Topper]

Never had or used one

 

[Channel Hopper]

I haven't applied yet for the NNID, I'm hoping she will get tired of what is already on the console, but it's not looking good.

I bought one of these, in order to kickstart the coding at home and provide a couple of quality hours together, rather than relying on the school and an afterschool club, but it wasn't to be.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FM1VGTV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Whilst it looked good in the paper I had made for Christmas morning unwrapping, when she opened it (again last night the sheer number of individual pieces put her off rather quickly, despite my offer to count and separate the bolt/nut sizes into easy secitons, and then after about ten minutes of Doctor Who yesterday I'd had enough of the procrastinating and put it together.

There are a number of bits left over from the motor packet, since these are generic servos for a host of other projects, plus the jaws required a lot of manual adjustment to get them to grip anything, but the hardware is together, calbrated in terms of the movement angles, and should be functional once the PWM board arrives for the Arduino.