Mathematics is an example of one of the fields that doesn't require significant investment to enable "hands-on" learning. Suppose your child's interest is pique

Mathematics is an example of one of the fields that doesn't require significant investment to enable "hands-on" learning. Suppose your child's interest is piqued by chemistry or engineering, though. Math is certainly necessary there as well, but in order to explore concepts on more than a theoretical basis, expensive equipment is usually required. Maybe hacker spaces and similar community collectives that pool resources to obtain otherwise prohibitively expensive equipment can help fill that void.