When I was a kid, my parents got me the 300-In-1 Electronic Project Lab from Radio Shack. Elenco now makes similar units. Although this really kickstarted my interest in electronics (and a 30+ year career), the springs would get bent out of shape, and if you blew a component, it was not so easy to replace. Now with Snap Circuits SC-300 or the bigger Snap Circuits SC-750, younger children can enjoy the excitement of connecting electronics and seeing and hearing the results, with a much more durable product.