THIS WOULD BE A COOL PRESENT: The 130-in-one electronics project kit. I had one of these when I was a kid and learned a lot. Of course, the Snap Circuits 300 is a little more high-tech-looking, and it’s been very popular with InstaPundit readers in the past. Any other recommendations for hands-on presents for kids?

UPDATE:  Reader Kevin Hritz emails:

I’m an electrical engineer. I purchased the 130 in One electronics kit you highlighted, back in 2001 when my son was one year old in anticipation of him enjoying the electronics hobby as I did as a kid. I had the 150 in One Radio Shack kit back in 1975.

The 130 in One kit has some excellent projects and allows for much more experimentation with different circuit configurations and component values than does the Snap Circuits kit. The projects in the 130 in One kit are quite interesting and really do a great job highlighting basic circuit and electronics theory.

I was also impressed with the quality of the writing in instruction manual of the 130 kit.

Nice to know.