Safety first
Arduino projects run on low, gentle power — but wires, batteries and hot tools still deserve respect. Read these rules once and you can build with confidence.
The golden rule: ask a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult before you build, connect power, use a tool or battery, download code, or buy parts. If you are unsure, stop and ask.
Electricity
- • Use only the power source named in the project and rated for your exact board and parts. Never connect a circuit directly to a wall socket.
- • Unplug the board before you change any wire.
- • Never let a wire go straight from 5V to GND — that is a short circuit and it gets hot fast.
- • If something smells burnt, sparks, or feels hot, unplug it without touching the hot part and tell a trusted adult.
Batteries
- • Check the + and − ends before you connect anything.
- • Never charge a battery that is not rechargeable.
- • Take batteries out when you finish building for the day.
- • A puffy, leaking or warm battery goes straight to an adult — do not use it.
- • Lithium batteries need the correct charger and an adult experienced in handling them. Rechargeable AA cells are the safer choice for a first robot.
Tools and heat
- • Soldering irons and glue guns are adults-only tools. Always ask first.
- • Cut wires away from your face and keep your fingers behind the blade.
- • Work on a hard, tidy surface — not on a bed or carpet.
- • Wash your hands when you finish handling components.
Online safety
- • Use a nickname on the community board, never your full name.
- • Never share your school, address, phone number or photos of your face.
- • If a message makes you uncomfortable, stop replying and tell a trusted adult.
- • Ask a grown-up before downloading any code or library from the internet.
For parents and teachers
These activities use low-voltage electronics, but low voltage does not remove risks from short circuits, heat, batteries, small parts, or moving mechanisms. Adult supervision is recommended for every real build and required for lithium batteries and hot or cutting tools. Instructions are educational, not professional safety advice.