If you really want to learn the very basics of electronics hands-on, see if you can find an "Electronic Project Kit", also from Radio Shack. They are actually targeted to kids who want to build electronic stuff, and it's essentially a circuit board with connectors and wires that allow you to connect stuff without saudering. It comes with a step by step instruction guide that shows you how to read schematics. The perfect "Electric Circuitry for Dummies".. I loved mine.