[SuperJake]

I started out really early with robotics kits. Mindstorms was too expensive, so I went online and got some little hobby robotics kits. They usually come with a printed circuit board, all the components you need, and instructions on how to build it. These kits require solder and you don't have a lot of freedom as to what you build and what it does, but it teaches a lot about robotics and control theory. I spent my early teen years on these kits and they really sparked my interest in robotics. Plus, if you submit these robotics kits in science fairs and your are able to describe what is going on, you're virtually guaranteed a win of something like scholarships. Just Google "robotics kits" and you'll get a number of hits with kits for different skill levels. They definitely stand out apart from Lego's - and are a lot cheaper than the mindstorm kit!