10 Robot Kits to Encourage STEM Learning in Your Kids
As a parent, you want to help your kids develop a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM skills are critical to success in today’s world, but they aren’t always easy to learn. If you want your child to develop STEM skills at home, these 10 robot toys are perfect!
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DJI RoboMaster EP Core
The DJI RoboMaster EP Core is an exciting new drone designed to help kids learn how to design small units and toys safely and responsibly.
The DJI RoboMaster EP Core also comes with mechanical accessories and sensors that help introduce your kids to test real-world AI simulation and beginner-friendly coding skills. The Intelligent Controller supports functions like AI computing. Third-party open-source hardware, such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, is compatible with the DJI RoboMaster EP Core.
Kids can program their robot toys using the included programming block system, which allows them to tell their robot toys what to do. The robot toys can be programmed to follow lines or avoid obstacles while they move around the course. This is a great way to introduce your child to coding and robotics.
2. Lego Boost
Lego Boost combines building blocks with robotics technology to create some awesome toys! You get three different add-ons with this kit that you can build into any unit you like! You then control them using an app on your phone or tablet device.
They’ll use coding blocks to create programs that make their robots move around and interact with their surroundings. Kids will love seeing how their code makes things happen on screen.
3. Anki Cozmo Toy Robot
Anki Cozmo is a friendly toy robot that interacts with kids through facial expressions, sounds, gestures, and movement. It also has some programming capabilities and can be programmed using an app on your smartphone or tablet.
Anki Cozmo comes with several games and activities that teach kids how to code using Blockly or JavaScript programming languages. These robot toys are suitable for children who want to explore more than basic coding and circuitry and play around with AI features.
4. Makeblock mBot STEM Robot Kit
The Makeblock mBot Robot Kit features an Arduino-compatible microcontroller board, which allows you to use it with other Arduino-based projects and sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and more. It also comes with various motors and sensors for you to experiment with, as well as wheels so your robot can move around. It has a simple drag-and-drop web application that kids can use to code.
5. Edison Robot
This is one of the most popular robot kits available today. The Edison robot is a versatile robot with programming capabilities that make it the perfect choice for STEM learning for kids. The Edison robot comes with multiple sensors that can be used to teach kids about robotics and programming.
This is a great introductory robot toys for kids to develop their STEM skills. It has various activities that teach problem-solving, logic, critical thinking, and more. The best part about this toy is that it encourages kids to use their imagination and creativity to create new ways for Edison to perform tasks.
6. OWI Robotic Arm Edge Kit
This robotic arm edge kit has everything you need to build your own robotic arm! There are different parts in this kit so that you can make it into whatever type of arm you want: a human arm, claw hand, gripper claw hand, or gripper finger hand! The kit also includes instructions with pictures. You can remote control this robotic arm and use the sensors to perform various functions.
7. Blue bot Robot Kit
This is another cool robot for kids designed for STEM learning. It comes with a controller that allows you to program your sequence of moves for your robot.
The Blue bot kit has everything you need to create your own mini robots that move around using casters or wheels! This kit comes with motors, wheels, batteries, and microcontrollers, so you can build your own bots right out of the box! The Blue bot kit is ideal for anyone who wants to learn how robots work and use it for creating various projects like obstacle detection, line tracing, light tracking, and guard control.
8. Cubetto Playset
The Cubetto Playset by Primo Toys is one of the most popular STEM toys today. It teaches kids how to code without even realizing it! The idea behind Cubetto is that children will learn how to use commands like “forward” and “left” to move a wooden block through an adventure storybook world filled with obstacles. The wooden robot even responds to voice commands like “stop” or “go back.”
It helps kids learn the basics of coding and build the foundation for STEM learning without using the screen. Through movement on the wooden blocks, kids of around 3 years to 5 years can understand the logic behind coding even before they sit in front of a programmer.
9. Petot Bittle – Bionic Open-Source Robot Dog
Petot Bittle is a bionic open-source robot dog that any smartphone or tablet can control. It’s made of interlocking structures that can be put together to form the shape of a dog and can be programmed to control the dog’s actions.
It has an Arduino-compatible microcontroller that’s compatible with Raspberry Pi/ESP32. It can be programmed using Python and C and also graphical programming, so your kids can use any language of their choice to code.
This is great for kids above 12 who are looking for an advanced version to further improve their STEM skills.
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Sphero 2B – Programmable Robot Ball for Kids
Sphero 2B is a great educational toy for kids who want to learn about programming and robotics. This programmable ball has built-in sensors and LEDs, which allow it to react to its environment and move around autonomously and interact with other objects like pets, people, and furniture.
Sphero 2B is also equipped with artificial intelligence, which allows it to learn new tricks. It can be programmed using visual block coding and it’s best for someone looking for visual guidance to help learn coding in the beginning.
It can also be connected to the Sphero app to further use advanced features and can be used to navigate through blocks, mazes, and obstacles.
How to Choose the Best Robot Kits for Your Kids?
Robot kits come in all shapes and sizes, so choosing the best one for your child’s skill level is essential. Some are easy to use, while others require a little more patience and trial-and-error.
So, what should you look for when choosing a robot kit? Here are some things to consider:
- Age appropriateness: The age range specified by the manufacturer is important when choosing a robot kit. Some products may be too difficult or complex for younger children, so make sure to check the age before buying.
- Parts included: The number of parts included with each kit makes a big difference in how easy it is for your child to build their robot. While some kits may only have a handful of pieces, others come with hundreds of pieces that will keep them busy for hours.
- Skill level required: Some kits are designed for beginners who have never worked with electronics before, while others require more advanced skills such as soldering and wiring circuits together without instructions. If you’re unsure about your child’s ability level, then look at what other customers have said about the product before deciding.
Based on these, make sure to choose the best robot kit that’s inclusive of your kid’s skills as well as challenging and helping them move to the next stage.
Take Away
Since educational robots are making learning STEM concepts easy and fun, they will be around for a long time. Educational Robots facilitate the learning and understanding of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering for students.
The courses are excellent for kids who are not naturally inclined towards engineering or technology. This also enhances their problem-solving abilities.
Through educational robots, students can gain a deeper understanding of how machines work and sharpen their STEM skills, enabling them to be better prepared for their future careers.
