Robotics for Kids: Why It Matters and What Kits Are Available

Today kids have access to a huge variety of programs and apps, from art and music to natural sciences and mathematics. Children can explore many different subjects to find their niche. STEM programs with robotics have become popular among kids who have never tried this before. 

Robotics lets kids learn STEM concepts (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in a hands-on environment. They learn to program, design and build their own robots. Back in our day, we learned some STEM skills by playing with Lego bricks. 

As technology advances, children's toys advance too. Now low-tech Lego has joined forces with high-tech robots to give aspiring inventors hours of fun, creativity and adventure. Research shows that in addition to STEM literacy, robotics also fosters other, broader skills: practical creativity, problem solving, communication and teamwork. 

Learning robotics is not only about preparing a child for a career as a programmer or engineer, but also about developing the technical and problem-solving skills they will need for study and work. 

Lego Boost Creative Toolbox

Lego will always be fun and engaging for kids, but this robot kit adds several high-tech elements to the classic toy. The set of 847 pieces includes five programmable models (a robot, a guitar, a cat, an all-terrain vehicle and an auto-builder). 

Kids aged 7 to 12 will spend countless hours in a flow of creativity. Like most robotics kits, it works with its smartphone apps, as well as some other Lego sets for extra fun and creativity. 

Makeblock mBot Robot Kit

A great choice for beginner programmers, since the small robot can be built in just 15 minutes. Although the manual is short and simple, kids can make their own assembly for a unique design. MakeBlock offers add-ons so the child can upgrade their robot in the future without spending huge sums on a large kit all at once. 

The smartphone app lets users connect with others, so kids can learn about their peers' ideas for robot design. 

Wonder Workshop Dash Coding Robot

Suitable for parents of children older than six who want to introduce or develop their coding skills. The robot is better suited to beginners and can run for about five hours on a single charge. 

Dash grows along with a child's skills, since it comes with five smartphone apps that can program the robot to sing, draw and dance. For example, the Go app introduces lights, sounds, sensors and the robot's movements, while the Wonder app uses image-based coding. 

4M Tin Can Robot

One of the most budget-friendly robotics kits is also one of the most creative. All you need is a used sweet drink can and an AA battery. The child will learn to turn a used item into a fun and functional robot. 

The kit is recommended for children older than eight. It has easy instructions for installing a motor and making the bot wobble. A great option for a first step into robotics. 

Lego Mindstorms 51515 

Although this Lego set is quite expensive, a child gets a huge amount of knowledge and enjoyment from a programmable robot. For children older than 10, Mindstorms offers five versatile designs and a smartphone app with more than 50 activities. 

The set consists of about 1,000 pieces and batteries. If a child is obsessed with robotics, this set will finally satisfy their curiosity. 

Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set Learning Resources

A 77-piece set for children older than five includes removable arms, coding cards and many other fun accessories for building obstacle courses. This set does not require a smartphone app; it works with an easy-to-use remote control. 

Anki Cozmo Toy Robot

The kit lets a child build and program their own robot friend. Cozmo is a fun programmable robot powered by artificial intelligence that can express emotions, recognize you and remember your name using a camera running at 30 frames per second and facial recognition software. 

In addition to the tiny robot, the set includes blocks that can be stacked and arranged through coding in a smartphone app. 

UBTech Jimu Astronaut Robot Series

The Astrobot series includes the Cosmos kit, which can be built in three different configurations or as your own mechanical invention. It uses block-based coding to program robots to overcome obstacles, move objects and more via a smartphone app. 

The kit consists of 384 interconnecting parts and comes with three-dimensional step-by-step instructions to follow.