What is the youngest age to teach your kids how to assemble a computer?

Question

I'm about to show a complete assembly of a computer. My kids are between ages of 10 and 15. Is there a rough age that is a good age to show them the guts of a computer? Consider also issues such as electric shock hazard to humans; electrostatic discharge risk to components; drop risk of screws into hard-to-retrieve/find spots, etc. The only item not shown installed is CPU mating to mobo, and insertion of RAM (man that sounds NC-17 rated). So, what do you think?
One more thing, I'm going to skip over those steps I consider to be most boring -- install of software and changing configuration files.
While you are thinking over this question, assume that I can tolerate one $50 component getting, ahem, dropped (and irretrievably broken). Given this tolerance for failure, what is the age I can let the kids get in on the wiring, bolting, etc. of PC innards under my supervision?
Extra points for answers that: tells me if 2 hours is too little time to go from opening the case to powering up a Ubuntu live-CD. Oh, and just to make the task easier for the kids, I'm reusing mobo, memory, CD-ROM, PS, and fan from an older setup and putting it into a new case, with four fresh hard-drives.

Answer 1

Well, I started at 5...

In seriousness though, I'd go more with "when they show an interest", and apply proper supervision. Can't hurt to get an electronics kit (one of the ones with a breadboard for prototyping) if there is an interest there, too.

Oh, and I have a soldering iron scar, but I picked that up (quite literally) at school...

Answer 2

Is there a rough age that is a good age to show them the guts of a computer?

I think the issue is:

When your child shows an interest in anything, foster that interest by creating an environment that encourages exploration. Children need exposure to things that are foreign and different from everyday life. That will create some curiosity and hopefully motivation.

Consider also issues such as electric shock hazard to humans; electrostatic discharge risk to components; drop risk of screws into hard-to-retrieve/find spots, etc. The only item not shown installed is CPU mating to mobo, and insertion of RAM (man that sounds NC-17 rated). So, what do you think?

Details, schmetails (sp?). Depending on the kids, their personalities, details will either interest them or bore them. Keep things simple and show them things step by step. Don't bother explaining the wonderful world of motherboards unless they want to know about it. If they have questions, answer them as best you can. Let their interest dictate the experience. Don't overload them on step one.

While you are thinking over this question, assume that I can tolerate one $50 component getting, ahem, dropped (and irretrievably broken). Given this tolerance for failure, what is the age I can let the kids get in on the wiring, bolting, etc. of PC innards under my supervision?

Again, age is really irrelevant. If a 6 year old shows more self control, listens and obeys more than a 12 year old does age really matter? I remember some 12 year old kids I can recall from my childhood who couldn't stand still for 2 minutes. Age is a number. Measure people for who they are and how they behave and just teach them to respect other's property and especially electricity.

Extra points for answers that: tells me if 2 hours is too little time to go from opening the case to powering up a Ubuntu live-CD. Oh, and just to make the task easier for the kids, I'm reusing mobo, memory, CD-ROM, PS, and fan from an older setup and putting it into a new case, with four fresh hard-drives.

From my experience, with kids if you can't do things in less than.. say.. 30 minutes you'll lose attention. Maybe you should do a prep walk through of your installation before the kids get a shot at it. Find ways to make it simple but effective. Edit: If it takes longer than 30 minutes and goes for hours on end at the kids request, so be it. You're doing a good job of getting their attention, interest and motivation.

Putting together a machine can be done relatively quickly but keeping attention and interest are much more difficult. Too much information and it'll feel like a lecture. Just a little bit of information at the right time and kids will come up with questions on their own if they're interested. The more questions you get, the better.

Answer 3

Age isn't the issue, it's experience. Personally, I wouldn't get someone building a machine unless they understand how to do it, and ideally, if they've seen it done. Show them how to do it, maybe do the hardest bits for them the first time (Heatsink onto the CPU comes to mind).

It's also good to have done some parts before. Get them used to taking the side of a case off, and so that they know what each component is, and how it's connected. Let them install a new stick of ram, a new hard drive, a PCI card, etc. If you've already done most of the components, doing a build from scratch seems a lot less daunting. If you can get hold of a cheap, but working second hand machine (something like freecycle is good for this), let them take it apart and try putting it back together.

Answer 4

I would say that you would be fine at 10+. Below that I think it would depend on the child and the interest. Even at 10 I think your biggest problem will be attention span. You might have better results breaking the build up over a few days in 30 minute or so increments.

Answer 5

Not at all, in fact ripping apart or computer to install our first CD-ROM when I was a kid was what got me really interested in computers.

Treat it no different than showing a kid how to change the oil or replace a battery in a car. Knowledge is never too early if they are interested, and might give them a new avenue of interest.

Answer 6

Teaching them how to assemble a computer by themselves will not only spark their interest in building computers but also other electronic equipment, also they will want to learn how to troubleshoot their PC's when something goes wrong.

Its as much fun as playing with Lego blocks, if you keep the awe factor going along with some do's and don't for keeping them safe while handling such equipment it will spark their interest in both hardware and software.

Its never to early to learn anything, I'd say let have a go at it and watch the little engineers enjoy themselves

Answer 7

By the time I was ten I was helping my dad work on our computer, and by 15 I was building them from scratch, so I'd say your kids are certainly old enough.

From personal experience, age isn't really the main factor. I was helping my dad work on electronics by the time I was five. On the other hand, I know people in their mid-30s who I wouldn't let near anything that plugs into a wall. It's more of a personality thing, I think, rather than an age thing.

Based on the fact that the idea has even occurred to you, I imagine your kids are ready. Trust them not to screw anything up (but watch discreetly) and you'll be fine.

One of the best things my dad did in that department was just let me mess with stuff at an age that should have seemed way too young. It worked out great - I never killed a component, and the kind of confidence you get from being able to build a rig from scratch at 13 is pretty incomparable.

So go for it! You'll all have a great time.

And for the bonus points, two hours sounds about right.

Answer 8

10 and 15 are old's can be very sharp when motivated. Let them see you taking it apart, and if they look interested, offer to let them pull a cable out or unscrew something. If they come back, let them seat a PCI card. If they keep coming back and asking questions, THEN you know they're interested and you can go full speed.

If not, they'll make a fine astronaut/fireman/school teacher one day.

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Another suggestion: is to rig the operating system to automatically startup a really dyanamic or fun application. It could be a simple game, a colorful painting program, or a first person shooter for the older ones just so they can see an immediate reward for successfully building the system.

Answer 9

Why not see if you can pick up any old computers from your local schools, offices, etc take it apart with your kids and explain all the different components to them?

Don't be too worried about them electrocuting themselves, as long as you keep an eye on what their doing I doubt anything will go wrong.

Also don't force them into something they might not enjoy, not everyone likes messing around with computers.

Answer 10

I am 9 yrs. old and I just built my first computer in a day and in fact I am using it right now!! In my opinion the hardest part was actually buying all the stuff for the computer and I had to go back to the store (Microcenter) to get the bracket for the SSD and my motherboard required 24 pin socket for the power supply but I only had 20 pins. The easiest part was installing windows 7. if you are a fan of EPO (Electronic Parts Outlet) sorry they don't sell computer parts anymore. but they do have good robots! :)

Answer 11

The younger the better!

I am 22 and started when I was about 3-4 just messing around playing on a old monochrome 286 laptop!

When I was 6, my dad's office chucked away loads of old 486 machines, loads with different things wrong with them. I took about 10 of these and built a few fully working ones - and never looked back!

Basically, teach them the basics - including that the CPU is not the entire chassis (how many times have you heard that!)

Again, you can never be to young to start learning.

Answer 12

If they can play with legos without biting, forcing, or stomping on them, they can slot pc parts together. It's not that hard. The tricky bit is using a screwdriver without scratching anything, and having a reasonable workable case (suggesting a motherboard tray). Of course you'll be assisting in this activity. I recall that when I was 5 I installed a serial card into an Apple ][+ to use a mouse with it. It turns out to be easy, but there's even less moving parts there.