Can the HN community recommend their solutions/kits/toys/teaching methods for 8 yo kids to learn basics of electronics and Arduino programming? My 8yo son is quite into soldering and Arduino programming and I would like to support him the way he wants with the optimum amount of tools and the right exposure. Currently he can solder, can build DIY electronics kits purchased from AliExpress, code in Arduino IDE and build simple circuits on breadboard.
Banggood can be a good place for cheap stuff to use in projects and even get new ideas based on their offerings.<p>Maybe look for practical projects they find interesting. Maybe building a cheap homebrewers cubesat, then <i>test</i> "launch" it using a weather ballon. If it works and you have a valid scientific mission for it you can get the launch aspect covered under a program/grant. This is something I wanted to do (only up to the test launch since I don't have a meaningful mission).
I would highly recommend using MakeCode to visually program arduino/microbit/adafruit circuit express. You can switch between the visual blocks or Python.<p>I personally use the microbit as a hardware platform to teach my 8 year old daughter. We have build a remote control robot out of legos, a lego crane that can raise and lower an object.<p>I have also been building out a course for her school that utilizes the microbit v2. It can use most of the sensors that the Arduino uses, but I like it as a more complete package. It comes with bluetooth, a radio, and a whole host of sensors built in.