LittleBits is a remarkable series of electronics kits, and one of the easiest ways to get children ages 8 and up into engineering (or to do your own tinkering). Several kits are currently available, including the Base Kit and the Smart Home Kit. The former is a bit light on components considering the price, and the latter is clearly more targeted toward Makers than kids. If you really want to show children the wonders of electronics, the Gizmos & Gadgets Kit ($199.95) is the way to go. This package has everything you need to build countless fun little devices, with plenty of flexibility for exploring, and like all LittleBits products it can be expanded easily with additional kits or individual Bits. It's packed full of modules and ideas, and is excellent way to start your offspring on a path toward a STEM career.

LIttleBits are electronic components that magnetically snap together to create circuits. Each project requires a blue Power Bit (either via battery or USB, depending on the Bit) and some mixture of pink input and green output bits, with orange connector/logic bits further altering the behavior and shape of the project. Most circuits will have at least one pink and one green Bit, with the input triggering or changing the output, like pressing a (pink input Bit) button to turn on a (green output Bit) light.