Raspberry Pi

[JunieSpoony]

DS10 has asked for a raspberry pi for Christmas. I have no idea where to start. He does Scratch coding online and has had a Makey Makey and a Cue but not really got into them. I think this might be because DH and I really have no idea where to start, so haven't helped him too much. Or it could be because they are too preplanned/limited in what they can do. Or they are too hard or too easy for him. I'm not sure, given that he is still interested in coding in general. (He is autistic and not the greatest at explaining!)

Anyway, is there a good raspberry pi option that is suitable for people with clueless parents? We have a standalone keyboard and mouse already. I just have no idea where to start and what else he would need apart from the actual RP itself. Please help!

There are some beginners guides on here thepihut.com/collections/raspberry-pi-books

Does he have a monitor/TV he can plug it into? If so and you already have a keyboard and mouse (are they wired or wireless?) I'd go for the Pi 3 and a pre loaded noobs sd card. That should be enough to get him started, you can also get starter sets and books on sites like pimironi and pihut.

Would also recommend getting a case. There are loads of extras you can get, but I'd let him play with it and see what projects etc he is interested in.

We're more at Microbit stage but Kiltronik sell Raspberry Pi. I'd contact them for advice, they were brilliant with me this week about what add ons to get.

Thanks everyone! Our TV is only 3 or 4 years old so assume he could use that, and the mouse/keyboard are wireless. Looks like DH and I have a lot of reading up to do in the next couple of weeks.

Just doing a bit of Sunday morning research!

This looks good:
thepihut.com/collections/featured-products/products/raspberry-pi-400-personal-computer-kit

For my son, I'm going to get a bit more out of our Microbit first - probably by buying a robot. Though in a year or two will move him onto this.

Look up pimoroni kits as they come with the pi but are set around a project.

The other fun option are pi robots

Thanks both! How old is your son, @yoshiblue? I’ve never heard of a Microbit before! (Yes I am totally ignorant in this area.)

My DS is 8. The micro:bit is the 'BBC' computer - one year they funded to give one to every child in Year 7. During the last lockdown we did some coding of it, loads of information here. The coding for it is with Make Code using drag and drop coding like Scratch.
microbit.org

After you posting this thread I've actually done a load of research into the Raspberry Pi today and may get him the 400 (link above!) Its a computer in a keyboard and it will give him his own device for Scratch, going on the internet, writing documents etc. Python can come in time!

If you already have a keyboard and mouse, this may be better:
thepihut.com/collections/raspberry-pi-kits-and-bundles/products/raspberry-pi-starter-kit

You could then get this beginners guide to get him going
thepihut.com/products/the-official-raspberry-pi-beginners-guide-4th-edition

I'd also read up about the system getting a bit hot as you may want to get a fan/heat sink - Sure the Pi Hut can advise, also a note in the description.

Thanks so much @yoshiblue! You sound very knowledgeable. Really appreciate your help.

@JunieSpoony I am now I've watched hours worth of You Tube! haha!

Thanks for your initial post, if it wasn't for that I would have never considered that for me. Now he's getting a R Pi and Microbit robot for Christmas. With that being a big present, it will stop me from buying lots of other things too.

pleased to hear it! I have four children so it's always nice to have something special to do with just one of them. There's a lot of YouTube in my future too.