Best Robotic Toys Teaching Kids Coding (Honest Review)

It's never too early to start teaching your children coding skills! We live in a world where we rely on computers and technology more than ever, and the number of jobs that require computer programming is growing. Kids these days are learning how to code at an earlier age than their parents did because they have access to revolutionary robot toys that are fun to play with and teach kids the basics up of coding up to its most advanced skills.

Some of the best robot toys for kids to learn how to code include:

Each of these toys has its own unique design and perfectly blends the teachings of coding with common youth interests, such as racing, pets, pop culture, and more.

In this article, we’ll describe the features and benefits of each these fantastic coding toys for kids along with their current prices and what age range they are best suited for.

Sphero Bolt

One of the first coding robots you’ll see on any list of “The Best Coding Robot Toys of Kids” is none other than this little sphere. But don’t be fooled by its overtly simple design and appearance; Sphero Bolt is arguably the most highly recommended and renowned coding toy in existence.

Sphero Bolt is a translucent palm-sized ball filled with LED lights and sensors that kids above the age of eight can control using an iOS or Android app and their coding skills. With the right input from them, this durable ball can flip, roll, spin, and light up nearly any array of colors of the coder’s choice.

The toy is powered by its unique Sphero Edu app and uses drag and drop coding blocks or JavaScriptutilized by most beginners. However, advanced coders can still explore the potential of Sphero Bolt by using its C-based OVAL programming language instead.

There are endless possibilities as Sphero helps young coders learnt through educational games that are engineering and math-based activities, in addition to using the colorful ball for every day creative play purposes.

If you enjoyed the Sphero Bolt and want a similar and/or cheaper option, try out Sphero’s two other products, the Sphero SPRK+ and the budget-friendly Sphero Mini.

WowWee COJI the Coding Robot Toy

Those of you looking to purchase a coding robot toy for younger kids around the age of four should seriously consider WowWee’s Coji the Coding Robot Toy.

COJI is a humanoid robot with a display screen face that is specifically designed to making the concepts of coding easy for younger kinds through the use of emojis! Using a smart device, kids can play improving games, develop STEM and problem-solving skills, and enjoy the various mobility and speech features COJI has to offer.

Kids have the choice of either playing solely with their smart device, playing with the COJI robot, or both to learn. Once they get the hang of the robot’s various commands, they can create and save their own custom programs for future use. These programs allow COJI to move, speak, and create fun sounds and facial expressions.

Dash

Another popular coding toy for kids you’ll see on a number of list recommendations is this colorful alien, Dash Robot Wonder Pack.

Wonder Workshop Dash is an adorable interactive coding marvel that will teach kids from the age of six to eleven how master the basics of coding straight away. With the help of a smart device, kids can program dash to whiz around the room, spin/dance, speak, light-up, or play interactive games.

With their help, this robot can also be intuitive enough to move around objects it encounters or respond to sounds. Another fun feature kids enjoy is their ability to record their voice on Dash and play this message whenever they use the coded command.

Easy but thorough tutorials are provided on all of the iOS and Android apps for Dash, so they truly understand how this language works before they start exploring it alone. Hundreds of coding puzzles can be found in the Blockly App along with the 60 story-based Math activities found in Class Connect that are constantly updated and swapped out for new content so there’s always something new for Dash users to learn and opportunities to test what they know.

Coding Pet Milky

Many of us remember the battery-operated robotic pets we grew up with, like the Pio-Chi Robot Dog, but nowadays, kids can have the thrill of a robotic companion paired with a coding and STEM education through ToyTron’s Milky, the coding pet.

Milky is a blue and white, palm-sized mouse robot toy equipped with 26 coding cards, 6 coding boards, and 6 markers that allows kids ages eight and older to develop computational thinking skills, coding abilities, and express their creativity.

With the help of Milky’s free app, kids can teach their coding pet how to dance, compose music and dance routines, or express different emotions. The provided markers also allow them to create specified routes for Milky to follow for fun without a smart device application.

Of all the options on the list, Milky is one of the best to get your kids started with coding if you’re uncertain of their interest level.

Artie 3000

The last coding robot toy we’d like to discuss is a popular budget-friendly coding teacher for kids ages seven and older.

Artie 3000 is one of the many coding robot toys that require a smart device to teach coding and STEM education at its full capacity, but it is one of the few coding toys that truly progresses with your child as its coding abilities advance.

Beginners can start with Blockly and snap! Intuitiv programming paired with the robots simple drag and drop coding design until they’re confident enough to progress to the more advanced coding of JavaScript and Python.

With its built-in WiFi, kids can take their Artie 3000 and its accompanying markers anywhere. The markers and app allow them to get Artie to draw the most amazing creations they can conjure up using their coding skills. First, it will show them how to create basic shapes, like a square, and then teach them how to alter the code for more advanced images.

If your kid loves the Artie 3000 but wants a toy with a little more color and personality, consider getting them Artie’s fellow coding robot, Artie Max!

Other Robotic Toys

If you love these robotic toys, check out these other products that will keep your kids entertained.

Final Thoughts

Coding is something many people assume is too advanced for children to grasp, but you’d be surprised how easily they can learn this skill with the help of simple toys that take them step-by-step through the process and nurture their passion and interest for coding language. Anyone could learn how to code, even at the young age of four, and the coding robot toys listed here, amongst the many other options on the market, can teach them how and put them on the path to a bright coding future.

More Inspiration for Kids Coding Toys by Age

If you are wanting to discover more toys and learning platforms to educate kids on coding and programming to inspire them, check out these posts dedicated by age.

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