With technology being such an integral part of today’s life including school
coding has become the latest buzzword addition to high-tech toy makeovers. But with so many coding toys for kids coming on to the market it can be difficult knowing which one to buy. I’ve pulled together a collection of vlog reviews by parent bloggers so you can see coding Toys in action and get a feel for just how easy or hard they are to use.
If you like this then you may also like my Best Interactive Toy Pets For Tweens and my Best Soft Toys To Make You Smile gift guides.
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Coding Toys For Kids
Coding Critters
Coding Critters, by Learning Resources, teaches early STEM concepts through coding and play, by getting kids to code along with their new pets’ storybook adventure. The book acts a bit like an instruction manual, with each page of the story teaching the kids how to make their coding Critter pet move. Each pet comes with its own playset that becomes the course you program them to move around. Ranger and Zip are dogs and their playset includes a dog bone see-saw, slide, dog house, ball and direction cards. the paw print direction cards can be used to help plan out the actions required to command Ranger. The commands are programmed into ranger using the arrow keypad on Rangers back. It also has a play mode that allows children to feed him, make him dance and sing silly songs. Keep an eye out for our vlog coming soon
Aged 4+ this is a great little coding toy for younger children
Mind Designer Robot
The mind Designer Robot is more than a coding toys for kids. It teaches them the basic concept of programming using mathematics, arithmetic, and geometry. Place a pen in the robots pen holder and it can draw simple and complicated shapes (by both built-in design and freestyle design programming) or use the included paper game board to solve puzzles. It can be programmed using its control panel, via voice control commands and via a free downloadable app. It has loads of learning potential and the online app introduces coding instruction blocks, whilst getting kids to create complex geometrical shapes and they can also play with loads of original interactive code-games. Check out my girls review video below to see it in action.
Aged 7+
Botley The Coding Robot
Botley The Coding Robot Activity Set from Learning Resources is a very clever little robot, which comes with a remote-control, so no phone or tablet is needed. Code, or program, him to go wherever you want, or use him as a line-following robot. He will also object detect to avoid collisions and can be assembled in several different ways, to create a different character. The 77 piece set includes lots of parts to use as obstacles, collect or carry around a course.
Aged 5-9
Power Tracks
Power Tracks by John Adams teaches the first steps of coding and circuit building by getting kids to program Volty the Robot so he can navigate his way around the circuit. The circuit is built using tabletop cards that can either follow one of the twenty templated circuits or they can design their own. Volty is programmed via the keypad on his back. As he travels around the circuit he discovers special tiles that reveal hidden secrets. Volty’s can also be programmed to navigate his way around your own home. If you go wrong it’s easy to reprogram Volty and try again.
Aged 5+
Okido Which Way? Coding Board Game
Okido Which Way? Coding Board Game teaches young children to think ‘like a coder’. The design is simple, but genius, with a line-following robot car and a magnetic board and track pieces, which replicate blocks of computer code. By assembling a track, your child has to problem solve and work out the directions necessary to complete their route. Minimal written language means they can focus on their game and learning, rather than reading.
Aged 4-8
Lets Start Coding
The award-winning ‘Let’s Start Coding‘ kits provide kids with a fun, guided way to start learning real text-based C++ coding. All the kits require the user to use a computer with internet access with over 55 online projects and hours of video walk-through, plus coding challenges. There are also over 1000 lines of code that they can tinker with, modify, and customize. Projects include coding a piano, coding a car, coding a rocket or even a mini speaker.
These kits are not cheap, but they are very well made and should last for a long time. You are honestly paying for good quality, safe components to get children interested in coding and I would recommend them to anyone.
Aged 10+ this is one for the older kids!
Big thanks to Jenny at The Brick Castle for letting me use her vid in this Coding Toys For Kids gift guide.
You’re welcome! Thanks for including my reviews – and promoting such a great group of toys.