Littlebits Store

I’m a big fan of LittleBits. I bought the very first LittleBits starter kit to my daughter (then 6 years old) a few years ago when it was first made available, soon thereafter I did get her the advanced kit for more bits. So it goes without saying we both were quite excited when we literally stumbled upon the LittleBits store during a visit to New York.
If you are not familiar with LittleBits, here is a brief introduction… they’re basically electronic parts which snap together with magnets. They’re divided into color coded groups; input (buttons, switches, sliders, sensors, etc), output (LEDs, lights, servo, motor, vibrator, speaker, LCD numbers), power (9V battery adaptor, USB power adaptor) and logic (gates like AND, OR, NOT, etc). There are also a couple of more advanced, special bits like the CloudBit that allow you interact with your creation over the internet (using an app or IFTTT or have the CloudBit trigger something on the internet) and the more advanced Arduino bit that allow you to actually code stuff. No soldiering, no breadboard — just snap things together! Fun to tinker with and build stuff with both for an adult as well as a 6 year old.
The store consist of the typical store area, but mostly a kind of workshop area where you can play with the LittleBits for free. This is pretty awesome — pop in with your kid (s) and go wild constructing anything you want. They’ve got plenty of glue guns, sticks, tape, balls and everything else you need. The crew (dressed in white lab suits) are happy to help you. You even get a stamp card that gives you 15% off if you’ve visited the store five times to build something.
In the store area you can buy kits or single stand-​alone bits. For a special price you can bring home your very own creation from the workshop area.
They also have workshops in the store. One of the store attendants literally bounced of excitement because I expressed interest in the Arduino Coding Kit and invited me to an Arduino hacking workshop the coming weekend. Too bad we were just visiting NY… I still had to get the kit however! Now let’s start coding! :)

An amazing place to visit and shop.
It is Tons if fun
They want you to try EVERYTHING
Creativity and ingenuity are all the rage. If you are near by — you should definitely stop in.

This is how to get people, especially young ones, interested in science &engineering. Hands on fun & innovation. :)
From their website, they «are an open-​source, well-​funded, fast-​growing hardware startup based in New York City. littleBits is the easiest and most extensive way to learn and prototype with electronics an ever-​expanding library of over 60 electronic modules ranging from the very simple (power, sensors, light, sound) to the very complex (wireless, programmable, Internet-​connected). Our library is used in over 2,000 schools, sold to over 70 countries and has won countless awards, including an IDSA IDEA Gold Award, Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, Maker Faire Educator’s Choice Awards, Best of Toy Fair and White House Maker Faire Maker of Merit.
littleBits was invented by Ayah Bdeir, co-​founder of the Open Hardware Summit, an alumna of the MIT Media Lab, and a TED Senior Fellow…»