A little project. A shared adventure.
Real components. Your first solder joints. A little creature that comes to life with a shadow.
Solderlings are things children make with a grown-up — and proudly show everyone afterwards.
Find your creatureFour curious creatures. First kits in development.
FOUR LITTLE REASONS TO GET CURIOUS
Meet the first Solderlings collection. These kits are in development. Choose a creature to check its availability and ask for updates.
Light & shadow · 1 creature
A little creature. A little shadow. Four little lights.
Build a light-sensing Ladybird together, then see which materials make her lights glow.
Our first family build. In development.
Ladybird isn’t available to order yet. Leave your email and we’ll let you know when it is.
Sound & warmth · 1 creature
Warm hands. A different rhythm.
Explore a chirping circuit designed to change its rhythm as its temperature changes.
An experimental kit for exploring sound and warmth.
Cricket isn’t available to order yet. Leave your email and we’ll let you know when it is.
Fields & sound · 1 creature
There’s a hidden world to listen to.
Meet a magnetic-field listening creature, with an etched pickup and a little speaker.
A more involved build. In development.
Earwig isn’t available to order yet. Leave your email and we’ll let you know when it is.
Light & timing · 2 creatures
Two little lights. One bright idea.
Build a pair of flashing creatures. We’re exploring how their flashes can influence each other.
An experimental two-creature build. In development.
Firefly isn’t available to order yet. Leave your email and we’ll let you know when it is.
Prototype artwork shown. Planned kit prices, with tools separate; contents and final prices will be confirmed before ordering. No orders or payments are taken here.
MINIBEAST No. 01
Ladybird senses the light around her. Cover her sensor and four little lights glow. Lift your hand and they fade away. Then comes the best question: “What else can we try?”
Will tissue paper make a shadow? What about your favourite leaf? Decide what you think will happen.
Practise a few joints, then build in small steps. The grown-up guides. The child gets to say, “I did that.”
Try your idea. Change something. Try again. A working creature is the beginning of the experiment.
FOR THE GROWN-UP BESIDE THEM
We’re designing the instructions for parents who are learning too: parts in build order, one clear step at a time, and help when a light doesn’t light.
We’re exploring builds with children around six and up, working closely with an adult. The first pilot will help us find the right pace, support and age guidance.
Soldering needs a hot iron, eye protection, fume extraction and an adult’s full attention. Tools will be separate from the kit. We’re also exploring a guided first-build workshop.
WHY I’M MAKING SOLDERLINGS
I work in AI. At home, I build things with my children.
I want them to know that the things around them can be opened, understood and fixed. That an idea can become something they can hold. And that when it doesn’t work the first time, they can find out why.
That’s where Solderlings starts: a parent, a child, and a small thing they made together.
Dominik Founder & dad · Guildford, Surrey
BEFORE THE FIRST JOINT
Especially if this is new to both of you.
All four kits are currently unavailable while we develop and test them. Check a kit’s availability to request an email when it becomes available. Nothing is ordered or charged.
We’re designing around a parent and child building together, including children around six. Final age guidance will follow prototype testing and a safety assessment. Younger siblings can join the wondering and watching; the hot tools and loose parts stay in the supervised build area.
That’s exactly the experience we want to understand in the pilot. We’re developing a practice area, clear build steps and help with common mistakes. Tell us whether you’d prefer a home kit or a guided workshop.
For a home build, yes: a suitable temperature-controlled soldering iron and stand, lead-free solder, cutters, a heat-resistant work area, eye protection and fume extraction. The adult will need to guide and supervise the whole build. We’re exploring workshops for families who want help getting started.
We’re designing short stages so you can stop and come back. We’ll measure real build times in the pilot. Planned prices are £19 for Ladybird, £24 for Cricket, £29 for Earwig and £34 for a Firefly pair, with tools separate. Final contents and prices will be confirmed before ordering.
Ladybird senses light and responds with LEDs. She doesn’t move or use AI. She introduces a useful foundation for robotics: a sensor takes something from the real world and a circuit makes something happen.
COME AND MAKE THE FIRST ONE BETTER
Would you like to try a Solderlings build with your child? Leave your email and tell us how you’d like to get started.
We’ll contact you about the pilot and launch. No deposit, no pre-order, and no obligation to take part.
Or say hello