Help him work through "requirements" first in an orderly process. This is always a useful skill. It informs selection of approach.
Electromechanical approaches may be more intuitive / accessible, and could be upgraded later. Like a windup kitchen timer and replace the "dinger" with a contact pair. Easy hand tools and soldering skills builder, and any shortcomings become Phase 2....
Scrounging parts is also a key hobbyist skill set unless said hobbyist is made of money. Get him to "see" the problem and let him "see" solutions that lie around him.