10 Best Programmable Robots for Kids
Updated: Jul 7, 2020
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UBTECH Mythical Series: Unicornbot Kit-App-Enabled Building & Coding Stem Learning Kit
A great way for your child to learn coding. This buildable unicorn robot has step-by-step, 3D, 360° instructions and Blockly coding platform, allowing kids to build and code this robot to be able to navigate obstacles, pick-up objects, control light and sound effects, show emotions, and a whole lot more.
Sphero SPRK+: App-Enabled Robotic Ball and Programmable Robot
This sphere is waterproof, scratch-resistant and makes use of Motor Encoders, Gyroscope, & Accelerometer sensors to move around at a speed of (4.5 mph). The great thing about this robot is that using the App a child can advance from beginner level to more advanced, creating more complex instructions for the robot to complete.
Fisher Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy
This fun little robot is recommended for younger kids between the ages of 3-6 years. The head is motorized and each of the 8 easy-to-connect segments instructs the robots to perform a different action. As the robot completes each action the segment lights up. This is a great toy for introducing basic coding to a toddler before moving them onto one of the more complex coding robots in this list.
Original BB-8 by Sphero
This app-enabled Droid is known for its tough shell so suitable for kids who really want to put it through its paces. It has a 60 minute battery life with a 30 meter range. The droid develops its character the more a child plays with it making it quite adaptable. Kids can also create and view holographic recordings. Super popular with Star Wars fans and it flies off the shelves around Christmas time.
LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox 17101
Lego hit a home run with this one. The Lego Boost is 5 robots in 1 - Vernie the Robot, Frankie the Cat, Guitar 4000, M.I.R 4 & the Auto Builder. Each robot is progressively more challenging to build and each is able to do different things. Kids can build and code each robot with the downloadable App. I love the versatility of this product.
Anki Cozmo Toy Robot
The Anki Cozmo interactive Robot displays a large variety of emotions, recognizes faces and remembers your child's name. This friendly little robot is marketed as a being just that - a friend for your little one. Apart from keeping kids entertained by lifting its 3 cubes that come along with Cozmo the robot also challenges kids with speed and mind tests such as: Code Cracker, Stack Attack, Poppin’ Locks, Cube Tennis, Robo-Sham-Bo, and Robo Showdown. Using the App kids can also programme Cozmo. Anki have created an adult robot too called Vector which helps you around the house.
Wonder Workshop Dash
This great coding robot comes with 5 free coding apps. Popular with teachers and schools kids can join an active coding community and share ideas and participate in competitions using Dash. I love the range of additional accessories that you can purchase that give Dash new and exciting functions and abilities: The Sketch kit, bulldozer & tow hook, Xylophone, Launcher & the new building brick connector which allows kids to build onto the Dash using Lego bricks.
DadiDeal Choice ///
LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 31313 Robot Kit
This educational STEM robot can walk, talk, shoot, play games and challenges and tasks. There are a whopping total of 17 different robots that can be made from the 601 pieces in this set. Kids can download the free app and control the robot from their device. What I love about this robot is that because its an official Lego robot all lego pieces are compatible, making this one of the most versatile toy robots on the market. Great for kids from 10 - 15 years old.
WowWee - MiP Coder Robot
This little robot first became famous for its unique balancing ability. Now WowWee have taken it a step further and made it programmable for our aspiring coder kids. Coding is easy with the simple drag and drop command feature on the App. The robots reactions to different inputs such a clapping, hand gestures, and pokes can all be modified. It comes with some accessories such as a tray for carrying you a slice of pizza (I tried this), a ramp to try out some tricks & large black tires for a more off-road look. For it's price its a fun, easy to operate robot suitable for kids aged 8 - 15 years old.
Watch our Family Review of this Robot:
DadiDeal Watch List ///
Sphero RVR™
At time of writing this robot was only available by pre-order. This is Sphero's latest take on programmable robots and we think the RVR is going to be Huge! Apparently we're not the only ones as it raised over $1 million on Kickstarter. What I really like about it is that its RVR’s 4-pin UART expansion port is completely compatible with third party hardware like Raspberry Pi, Arduino and more. Sphero encourage you to build whatever you want on top of the RVR and this really got our imagination going and I'm sure kids & adults around the world are going to come up with some pretty genius creations & add ons for the RVR. Under the hood - color sensor, light sensor, IR, magnetometer, accelerometer, gyroscope, and a removable, rechargeable battery powerful enough for the RVR & 3rd party hardware. You can pre-order the SparkFun Basic Autonomous Kit for Sphero RVR or the more advanced kit.
$249.99 - Pre Order from Sphero
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