Kids today grow up in a completely different world to their parents. As such, they will need a different set of skills in order to be successful.
The good news is that learning how to code and solve problems doesn’t necessarily mean additional screen-time. STEM toys are specifically designed to help kids learn new skills while having fun at the same time.
Below are some of the best coding toys the world of STEM has to offer right now.
LEGO 17101 Robotics Kit
LEGO’s 17101 Boost Creative Toolbox Robotics Kit will take your child’s fascination with LEGO to all-new levels.
Vernie the Robot is constructed using 847 pieces of LEGO. Once complete, he’ll even help your child learn the beginner basics of robotics.
By linking Vernie to a tablet, he can be instructed to dance, play a musical instrument, or even tell a joke. Over 60 activities are within Vernie’s range of capabilities, which makes for hours of learning fun.
For ages 7 and up.
Botley 2.0 Coding Robot
The Botley 2.0 Coding Robot tops our list of no-screen coding toys.
Instead of a tablet or computer, Botley the robot is programmed with the help of cards for making him move, make music, and light up the room.
Botley comes with 16 different interactions, and can even be transformed into a ghost, train, police car, and more.
For ages 5 and up.
Squishy Circuits Deluxe Kit
Combining play-doh and coding, the Squishy Circuits Deluxe Kit teaches kids about electronics with the help of a familiar friend.
The idea is to introduce kids to how circuits work in a fun and entertaining way. Play-doh is used to fashion shapes and animals before lighting them all up with a circuit.
Even colours of pre-made conductive dough is included in the box, as well as insulating dough, a mechanical buzzer, motor with fan, and a circuit switch for making it all light up.
For ages 8 and up.
Fisher Price Code-A-Pillar
This one has got to be one of our favourites. Fisher Price’s Code-A-Pillar has all the bells and whistles to keep your 3-year-old occupied and learning by play for hours on end, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy adult pursuits like playing Canadian slots for real money.
But this special caterpillar is more than just lights and joyful music, because it also teaches kids an introduction to coding from a very young age.
The caenjoy the rest terpillar can be deconstructed into nine segments, which can then be rearranged to make the toy move in different directions as well as wiggle.
The toy also comes with various targets to help teach kids how to construct the gadget in order for it to reach specific goals.
For ages 3 and up.
Osmo Coding Starter Set
The Osmo Coding Starter Set helps kids to interact with physical items in the real world while mirroring those objects on an iPad.
This enables the child to program the iPad by making certain movements with physical playing blocks. Each block comes with a specific and unique command, such as changing direction, jumping, and walking. The blocks can also be made to interact with one another for performing additional tasks and movements.
For ages 5 and up.