I started out with a 300 in 1 electronics learning kit from RadioShack which had a breadboard and lots of projects you could assemble to learn all the basics, f

I started out with a 300 in 1 electronics learning kit from RadioShack which had a breadboard and lots of projects you could assemble to learn all the basics, from resistors to diodes and transistors - and make fun projects like door alarms and synthesizers. RadioShack obviously does not make them any more but the good news is that there are lots of other electronics kits out there now! Learning digital design with an Arduino is great but it is also important to learn the analog side of electronics too.