Oftentimes, parents ask me what projects or activities they can do with their kids to get them excited about tech. And, while there are so many ways to approach this question, I usually recommend working on a project together. So, to make things easy, I created a list of the best Raspberry Pi projects for kids to help you get started.
Regardless of whether you’re lucky enough to be the proud parent of a wiz-kid, or not, younger kids need additional help and encouragement when it comes to tech. If you have a kid under the age of 10, I recommend working on the Raspberry Pi projects together. The goal is to expose younger kids to technology rather than training them to be coders.
If your kid is older than 10, then try to give them open-ended challenges or invest in Raspberry Pi kits that will allow them to continue learning with Raspberry Pi on an intermediate level. This is especially useful if your kid wants to join a robotics team or even apply to engineering school.
Best Raspberry Pi Projects for Kids
In this article, we’re going to explore what Raspberry Pi is and five fun Raspberry Pi projects that you can do with your kids to get them interested and working on tech.
But first, what is the Raspberry Pi?
What is Raspberry Pi?
As tasty as it sounds, the Raspberry Pi is a low-cost and small computer that can be used for computer programming, education, robotics, and making. The Raspberry Pi works with a computer monitor and a standard USB keyboard and mouse.
There are many flavors of Raspberry Pi (pun intended) including the following:
- Raspberry Pi Zero W: Smallest footprint. Great for IoT and low-power projects.
- Raspberry Pi 3 B+: Go-to option for most coding, educational, and robotics projects.
- Raspberry Pi 4: Newest model. Designed with dual 4K monitor support, additional RAM, and processing capabilities.
If you’re not sure which model to get, I’d recommend either the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ or the Raspberry Pi 4 2GB models. They’re both about the same cost and will allow you to do just about anything in the world of Raspberry Pi projects.
Whatever you do, do not buy a Raspberry Pi that doesn’t have Built-in WiFi (AKA Raspberry Pi Zero or older Raspberry Pi models). You’ll kick yourself over this. Trust me.
How to get started with Raspberry Pi Fast
The easiest way to get started with Raspberry Pi is to pick up a Raspberry Pi and start working with it. In most cases, there’s no replacement for hands-on experience, and setting up the Raspberry Pi isn’t that hard.
First, install any of the Raspberry Pi operating systems onto a micro SD card. Then, place the micro SD card into the Raspberry Pi. Next, connect a computer monitor and your peripherals. Finally, attach the power supply and watch the Pi boot up. I have a guide on this that you can use if you need more help.
The Raspberry Pi was designed for both hobbyists and engineers; however, because they’re so affordable, the Raspberry Pi has made its way into classrooms and homes around the world.
Once you’re set up, check out this list of easy (and fun) Raspberry Pi project ideas!
1. Build your Computer
One way to ease your kids into technology is to have them build a computer. I’m not talking about hardcore gaming computers either. What used to be an expensive and confusing process is now affordable and straightforward. There are a few computer kits you can purchase that guide you through the process of assembling a computer.
The Piper Computer Kit is designed for kids ages 8+ and uses a Raspberry Pi 3 B+.
It contains all the parts and components including a 1024×600 screen and a carrying case for easy transport. After the computer is built, kids can learn to program in Python or complete a variety of included coding challenges.
Another option is the Kano Computer Kit or Kano Tablet Kit. This system is designed for kids ages 6+ and you don’t need any technical knowledge to set it up. The Kano Computer Kit includes a rugged case for the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ and a wireless keyboard. It plugs into any computer monitor or TV with an HDMI port. The Kano Tablet Kit shows you how to build your touchscreen tablet. Plus, the included step-by-step book is catered towards kids with easy-to-follow pictures and step-by-step instructions.
Alternatively, you don’t need one of these computer kits to build a Raspberry Pi computer. You could pick up a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (or Raspberry Pi 4) kit and add your keyboard, mouse, and monitor. However, you get what you pay for because these kits take the guesswork out of using Raspberry Pi.
2. Create a Retro Gaming System
Remember those old N64 games like Mario Kart? Well, you can bring those back to life by building a Raspberry Pi Retro Gaming System. All you need is to flash an SD card with RetroPie or install it on an existing Raspbian OS, load your games, and play away.
There are Retro Gaming Raspberry Pi kits you can buy, or you can DIY and create your desktop or free-standing arcade. Some cool options are the cabinet gaming kit, the hand-held Raspberry Pi game hat, and the Raspberry Pi arcade set.
If you plan on having a lot of games on your Raspberry Pi arcade, I recommend buying the Raspberry Pi 4 4GB for a better gaming experience.
3. Hack Minecraft
Did you know that there are more than 176 million copies* of Minecraft floating around the world today? Minecraft is a popular and addictive game where players explore, craft, and battle in a 3D world. Build structures using the traditional method, or unlock the coding languages to manipulate things in the game world.
Get started with Minecraft: Pi Edition in just a couple of steps. First, boot up your Raspberry Pi. Then, download Minecraft: Pi Edition. Follow the setup instructions on the website. And that’s it! Now you’re ready to play Minecraft on your Raspberry Pi!
While there isn’t a specific goal of the game, Minecraft is a great way for kids to learn how to be creative and gain the preliminary skills needed for problem-solving and computer programming.
4. Learn to Program
The Raspberry Pi is a great platform to learn to code. Create animations or use the General Purpose Inputs and Outputs (GPIO) to interface sensors. Some popular, kid-friendly, programming languages are Scratch and Python. Or you can follow along with the Physical Computing Tutorial to take advantage of both programming and electronics with the Raspberry Pi.
Scratch is a block-based visual programming language used to create storyboards, animations, and games. It’s a great starter programming language for beginners and kids. Python is another programming language I recommend for kids because a lot of the commands are similar to writing English.
Python syntax is easy to pick up, and it’s not a “throw-away” language like most of the visual programming languages are. You’ll find that real software programs, algorithms, and robots use Python, making it a valuable language to learn.
5. Make Robots
Now we can talk about robots! The Raspberry Pi provides more options than the Arduino when it comes to developing robots. You can control what programming language(s) you use; how you interface the sensors, and whether or not you want to add cameras for image processing or object recognition.
Even though there are more options for robots that use a Raspberry Pi, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Raspberry Pi robots are better. If you’re completely new to robotics, then Arduino will be a little bit easier to learn. However, if you’re more advanced, or already built an Arduino Robot, then I definitely recommend using the Raspberry Pi for your next robotics project.
There are many different robots you can build. Mobile robots and Robot arms are just a couple of examples. The nice thing about using a Raspberry Pi is that you can focus more on developing code for the robot because you have more processing power than an Arduino.
If your kids are in High School, some intermediate to advanced topics are object recognition and machine learning. Amazon has a great selection of Raspberry Pi robot kits if you’d rather focus your energy on code development rather than mechanical design. The Yahboom Raspberry Pi Robot, Petoi Bittle Robot Dog, and Yahboom Robot Arm Kit are a few kits to check out.
Additional Raspberry Pi Resources
There are so many projects to try with the Raspberry Pi, so don’t think that once you complete one project, that’s all there is to learn. In this article, we explored five fun Raspberry Pi projects for kids. As you can see, there are so many different, but interesting, projects you can do with the Raspberry Pi.
- Build a computer;
- Create a retro gaming system;
- Hack with Minecraft;
- Learn to program; and,
- Make robots.
The crazy part is this is just a small subset of Raspberry Pi ideas. Try one, or try them all. You can even get a workbook with even more projects to try.
Either way, the best Raspberry Pi projects for kids are projects that your kid will enjoy doing.
What Raspberry Pi project are you going to try next? Let me know in the comments below!
