Prashant Pundir
Top 10 Robotics Kits for Kids
You never know what’s the right time to start worrying about your child’s education. It is difficult to determine the right amount of balance between playing and learning because children need both.
Technology is ruling the world and in the fast-paced environment of today’s day and age, it is crucial for kids’ minds to be stimulated for them to stay a step ahead.
This is the reason why STEAM education is gaining momentum and is important now more than ever. Playing is now integrated with learning, experimenting with STEAM toys that are. Below is a graph that depicts the growth of STEM Degrees across the globe –
Source: Statista
Back in the school days, playing with Lego Blocks was a way to acquire STEM skills. Now, with the advancement of technology, toys have made a leap too.
You can enjoy endless hours of fun, adventure, and creativity with high-tech robots. In these times of the Covid-19 pandemic, your kid can definitely pick up robotics DIY kits that will help them learn about engineering, coding, math, and other science concepts.
What Kids Can Learn from Robots
Robotics kits for kids are a great way to nourish STEM literacy. However, there are various studies that depict how robotics help in encouraging other skills such as problem-solving, hands-on learning, communication, and teamwork.
Therefore, teaching robotics to your kid isn’t just about giving them a playful experience, but it’s also about making them tech-savvy.
Source: EdTech Review
Robotics sounds like a complex subject, so it is widely assumed that it is for middle and high-school goers, but that’s just not the case.
Research has highlighted that when robotics is inculcated in pre-K to second grade, children are acquiring the ability to master basic robotics as well as programming skills. There are robotics kits for kids as young as 3 and 8.
Robotics kits for kids are extremely helpful in fostering creativity, help children follow directions, and when they finish with their project, it provides them a sense of accomplishment. And, they have their own cool toy that they can play with at any time!
In this fast-moving world, it is important for children to put in their time, effort, and energy so as to understand and appreciate the mechanics of the toys that they possess. As children work on their robotics DIY kits, it also helps them grow and develop hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
There is a diverse range of toys depending on age, skills, complexity, budget, and interests. Let’s take a look at some of the top robotics kits for kids –
1. mBot Mega
Are you an Arduino enthusiast looking for robotics kits for kids? You simply cannot miss mBot Mega – one of the most ideal robotics DIY kits for beginners.
This robotics kit for children is based on Mega AT2560 and comes with a powerful motor-driving ability that can connect up to 10 servos, 8 DC motors, or 4 stepper motors simultaneously. The 4WD mecanum wheels provide a fun element while moving in various directions.
This robotics kit for kids also supports Arduino IDE and Scratch and provides a detailed construction guide. With 3 preset modes, easy assembly, and easy start, this makes for a great educational learning kit for kids and adults.
2. Lego Boost Creative Toolbox
Legos, well you can always count on them for fun and engagement. However, this robotics kit for kids provides high-tech elements to the vintage toy. The kit is an 847-piece set that includes five programmable designs, a robot, guitar, rover, cat, and auto-builder.
This is one of the best robotics DIY kits primarily designed for kids aged 7 to 12. The kit is easily compatible with its own mobile app, Lego Boost, available on Android, Kindle, iOS, and Windows 10 devices.
3. 4-in-1 RC Kits for Kids and Adults – STEM Toy-Making Set
This robotics DIY kit provides endless fun and creativity. The STEM set comes with four models and all the models take around 40 minutes to 2 hours to build, giving ample time for kids to hone their hand-eye coordination and other motor skills.
It also allows them to focus for longer periods of time. There are diagrams and colorful instructions that help kids assemble a toy individually as well.
4. Embedded Learner Uno Kit – Version 2
This is one of the best robotics kits to gain experience in coding, programming, prototyping electronics, and IoT. This kit is compatible with Arduino Uno which contains many features and is very convenient to perform experiments with its easy USB interface.
The Embedded Learner Board is provided in the kit, so you can speed up the prototyping, make hardware connections simpler, and quickly create the circuits.
5. Wonder Workshop Dash Coding Robot
This is one of the best robotics kits for kids. For parents who are looking to teach coding to their children, this kit just works perfectly. This kit is more suited to beginners as it already comes charged for about five hours of play.
One of its impressive features is that it is compatible with five iPhone and Android apps that allow users to program the robots to dance, draw, sing, among other things. Wonder workshop also provides additional attachments, so you can update your robot at regular intervals should you get bored.
6. mBot Neo
mBot Neo is the upgraded version of the classic mBot, but it is more powerful, accurate, and faster. This robotics DIY kit is limitless in its ways of providing fun and creativity. It is very easy to build and promote AI, IoT learning.
It is powered by Cyberpi who has provided a high-quality speaker, and an onboard microphone. mBlock’s cognitive services combine well with Cyberpi to make text reading and speech recognition easier, helping students to experience advanced technologies.
7. 4M Tin Can Robot
Not only is this robotics kit the cheapest, but it is also very creative. You don’t need much except an AA battery and a soda can and you’re good to go. Learn to use a used object as a working, functional bot.
This is one of the best robotics DIY kits recommended for children 8 and above. The kit has very easy-to-read instructions and it’s a great toy to build your confidence and move on to other high-tech robotics kits.
8. Halocode
This robotics kit for kids takes hands-on learning to a different level. This STEAM robotics toy has a single board computer and an inbuilt Wi-Fi.
It is primarily created for programming education with its integrated setup of electronic modules. Kids can play around with AI speech recognition and use the unique technology to design voice-activated devices. The embedded sensors allow the Halocode to even respond to movement, sound, and touch.
9. Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set
This robotics DIY kit for children comes with a 77-piece activity, primarily designed for kids 5 and above. The kit includes coding activity sheets, detachable arms, and various other playful accessories to design obstacle courses.
Your kid doesn’t even have to spend time on the screen as this kit functions simply with an easy-to-control remote. These qualities make this one of the best robotics kits which are affordable and entry-level.
10. Code-A-Pillar
Were you someone who used to be enthralled watching a caterpillar as a kid? This is quite a similar experience but with fun learning. This is one of the most appealing robotics kits for kids which provides a simple yet appealing design along with STEAM learning.
The motorized head, the light-up segments, and the lights, sounds, and eyes that blink at you are sure going to make your experience wonderful. The kids will have the challenge to structure the segments and also engage in the learning of coding.
In a Nutshell
If you’re going to take up your own Robotics project, it is important to make the right choice. Robotics assists kids in developing creativity, logical thinking, and curiosity.
Robotics kits for kids to start out with should be complex enough to provide a good hands-on learning experience as well as easy enough so that kids don’t lose their confidence and miss the fun element of making it. Kids should feel that the robot is their brainchild.
Moonpreneur is doing a tremendous job in teaching robotics to children between 10-17 yrs through the Innovator Program. The product-development experience and the holistic teaching methodology help foster the learning process.
