In today’s digital age, children are constantly exposed to screens, which can be detrimental to their physical and mental health. To counteract this, screen-free coding robots have emerged as a popular educational tool for teaching children programming and computational thinking skills. These robots are designed to introduce children to the world of coding without the need for a computer or tablet.
In this post, we will introduce you to some of the best screen-free coding robots available on the market and highlight their unique features and benefits. We will also provide additional information to help teachers or parents make the right choice when selecting a coding robot for their children, including factors to consider such as age range, programming difficulty, and educational goals.
The Sphero Indi is a miniature “robot” on wheels equipped with color-sensing sensors. The toy is designed to help teach young children important skills such as logic, computation, and programming fundamentals. Indi is perfect for children who are just starting their coding journey.
The Sphero INDI is a robotic toy car that is designed to introduce young children to the basics of programming. Indi has a color sensor that tells it to go faster when it’s traveling over green tiles, turn left when it’s going over pink tiles, and so on. The toy comes with challenge cards that feature patterns with missing tiles, requiring children to determine which color tile would complete the pattern and allow Indi to reach its destination.
Indi may be used independently of a phone or computer by just following the directions on the tiles, but if your children are ready for more autonomy, the Sphero Edu Junior app will allow them to program the car’s actions in a block-based language.
Block-based coding and having kids design paths for a character to follow all sound very familiar to me as someone who has taught children the fundamentals of programming. The Sphero INDI is a great way for children to learn programming fundamentals in a fun and interactive way.
The Sphero Indi is an entertaining way to supplement your child’s education and learning. It’s a fantastic toy that teaches important skills. The downloadable app is a great way to introduce your little geniuses to the fundamentals of computer programming. We highly recommend the Sphero Indi for parents who want to provide their children with a fun and instructive toy that does not involve screens.
The Sphero Indi retails for $125.
The Cubetto by PrimoToys is a wooden coding toy that aims to teach children aged 3 and up the basics of programming through interactive play. The toy consists of a control board, coding blocks, a map, instructions, and an instructional storybook.
Cubetto is designed to introduce young children to the basics of programming through interactive play. To use Cubetto, children can first unbox the package and ensure all parts are included. Then, they can follow the instructions to pair the board with the Cubetto and begin programming.
Using the colorful coding blocks, children can create programs by arranging the blocks in a specific order on the control board. They can choose from four different types of blocks: Forward, Left, Right, and Function. The blocks can be placed in any order in the curved queue with 12 available spots, and the blue button can be used to execute the program.
As Cubetto moves along the grid map, children can see the direct result of their programming choices. They can experiment with different block combinations and create their own programs to help Cubetto navigate through the adventures in the instructional storybook. This hands-on approach to programming allows children to learn coding concepts in a fun and engaging way.
By playing with Cubetto, children can develop computational thinking skills, which can help them in the future when they are introduced to more advanced programming concepts. The simplicity of the coding blocks makes it easy for children to grasp the fundamental concepts of programming, even if they haven’t yet learned how to read or write.
The Cubetto by PrimoToys is an excellent tool for teaching young children the basics of programming. It’s easy to use, interactive and provides a unique learning experience that sets it apart from other children’s toys. The people-first content ensures that the toy is durable and engaging for children, and the early introduction to computational thinking lays the foundation for future education in computers. While the price point may be higher than some other toys, the Cubetto provides a valuable and unique learning experience that’s worth the investment.
Cubetto is priced at around $225, which may be more than some other children’s toys. However, it provides a valuable and unique learning experience that sets it apart from other toys on the market. The toy has even received the Montessori method’s certification, and PrimoToys offers a variety of bundles and discounts.
The Matatalab Coding Set Home Edition is a screen-free, hands-on coding set suitable for users of any skill level, including parents who need not have any prior knowledge of computer programming. It includes a command tower that gives orders to MatataBot through radio waves when the colorful code blocks are placed on the control board. MatataBot can follow paths, solve mazes, play games, have conversations, create pictures, sing songs, and even dance, depending on the type of bricks used and their sequence.
You direct MatataBot’s motion by placing coding blocks on a control board. Each code block represents a single instruction, and MatataBot will carry out the program’s instructions by following the algorithm, which to the untrained eye looks like a repetitive pattern. Several of the blocks feature arrows pointing in different directions, allowing you to direct MatataBot in a wide range of motions. There are both musical and acoustic building blocks. Play the games and complete the challenges as directed on the game map board, or make up your own rules.
MatataBot is able to teach children computational thinking ideas in a non-digital setting by having them physically arrange the coding blocks, thus building muscle memory for when they begin utilizing gadgets for coding. It’s a fun way to improve your mathematical and imaginative abilities. The home version includes three increasingly difficult challenge booklets to keep kids interested in coding and solving problems through play.
Kids will have a blast with the Matatalab Coding Set while learning the fundamentals of the connection between actions that may be categorized as code and the resulting behaviors. It is beneficial for learning to work together and comprehend the concept of input/output. The kit serves its purpose and is a great set that will keep kids entertained while they study.
The Matatalab Coding Set Home Edition costs $199. The additional artist, musician, sensor, and animation expansion packs can be purchased separately.
Makeblock created the screen-free coding robot known as mTiny for young children. The kit includes an adorable panda-shaped robot, a rechargeable tap-pen controller, and 36 coding instruction cards. Additionally, Makeblock offers 24 reversible map bricks that children can assemble like a jigsaw puzzle to create programmable environments for mTiny to explore.
Children can program the robot’s movements by rearranging the coding cards in a specific order, thanks to the use of the industry-standard CMYK printing process to produce dot patterns that mTiny and the pen can read. The kit also includes animal masks for mTiny, a storybook, tap-pen game cards, and decorative accessories.
The Makeblock mTiny Coding Kit is a holistic way to introduce specific STEM skills such as problem-solving skills, logical thinking, computational thinking, basic coding concepts, and social skills while remaining screen-free in the middle of the digital age. The kit is designed for children aged four and up and is a great investment for parents looking to introduce their kids to coding and computational thinking in a fun and engaging way.
To start, follow the Storybook tasks that begin with basic programming problems, such as giving mTiny a set of actions to perform upon landing on each tile. The coding instruction cards are essentially cardboard replicas of the ScratchJr illustrations, and they use the CMYK printing process to produce dot patterns that the mTiny and the tap-pen controller can read.
Children rearrange the coding tiles in the desired sequence, tap each one with the pen, and mTiny responds accordingly, learning to perform various actions, expressions, and emotions depending on the coding instructions.
The mTiny coding robot is a fun and engaging way to introduce young children to the basics of coding without a screen. Its tangible coding cards and tap-pen controller make it easy for kids aged 4 and up to learn computational thinking and problem-solving skills. Although it may not be as cheap as other options on the market, the mTiny kit’s quality and utility more than makeup for its initial cost. Overall, we highly recommend the mTiny coding robot for parents and educators looking for a screen-free, Scratch-based introduction to coding that will captivate young children.
The mTiny coding robot kit is priced at $150, making it a worthwhile investment for parents and educators seeking a high-quality, screen-free coding tool for young children.
The Mochi Robotics Kit is a screen-free, hands-on learning tool that features a programmable teddy bear, LEGO compatibility, and story-based educational content. It is designed to introduce young children to the concepts of computational thinking and programming through active play.
The Mochi Robotics Kit is designed for independent or group learning for children aged 3-6. It features audio-visual feedback, touch, visuals, music, noises, and movement with story-based educational content. Children can program Mochi to move, produce sounds, dance, and rerun an entire sequence based on how they arrange the coding blocks. The kit’s compatibility with LEGO bricks provides children with even more opportunities for experimentation and building with their imaginations.
The Mochi Robotics Kit is an excellent screen-free option for parents looking to introduce their young children to the basics of coding and computational thinking. Its programmable teddy bear, story-based educational content, and LEGO compatibility make it a fun and engaging way for children to learn. The kit’s biodegradable wood-based components also make it an eco-friendly option for parents. Overall, we highly recommend the Mochi Robotics Kit for parents looking to encourage their children’s curiosity and creativity.
The Mochi Robotics Kit is priced at around $149.99.
KUBO is a Denmark-based company that provides a simple and intuitive plug-and-learn robot for K–2 students to explore screen-free coding. The robot is accompanied by a set of TagTiles and quality online resources to provide a hybrid analog/digital solution that balances tactile feedback with computational thinking. KUBO’s five sections of quality STEM materials cover concepts such as routes, functions, and loops, and the robots and tiles can be purchased in single or multi-packs for an individual, small-group, or whole-class use.
The KUBO robot runs over the TagTiles and reads the RFID microchips embedded in them to perform actions like turning right, going straight, reading functions, and executing loops. Students can program KUBO to move around on the provided study mats. KUBO is easy to assemble and can be used on tables or on the floor.
Pitsco’s KUBO program is a straightforward program that provides teachers with online support and materials. The materials are easy to store and set up, and students are granted a KUBO coding license on completion of the lessons. It is a great hands-on solution for teaching K–2 students about computer technology in general and coding in particular.
KUBO is an easy-to-implement, low-complexity, screen-free, plug-and-learn educational robot that provides a novel, hands-on approach to learning to code. The TagTile method is an innovative, tactile approach to coding that has broad curriculum applicability for improved student achievement. KUBO’s mission is to promote blended learning by bringing together the physical KUBO robot in the classroom with the digital learning platform, KUBO Play, which can be used anywhere, including at home.
KUBO is an excellent choice for teachers new to teaching coding, who are feeling overwhelmed by the variety of coding tools on the market, or who are searching for an economical solution that makes it simple to get started and gives them all the assistance they need. It is also great for parents who want a hands-on, screen-free way to explore coding and programming with their young children.
KUBO’s robots and tiles can be purchased in single or multi-packs. Prices vary depending on the number of robots and tiles included in the pack, with a single robot and tile pack priced at $259.
As a father and educator, I am always searching for resources that are both useful and screen-free. The Botley 2.0 Coding Robot Activity Set is a fantastic option for teaching children as young as five how to code without the need for any electronic devices.
To use Botley 2.0 for coding, children can select the appropriate coding card, point Botley in the desired direction, and program all the required actions into the controller. As they progress, children can experiment with creating their own challenges and tasks for Botley 2.0 to complete. The OD sensor and black line sensor are also excellent supplements for teaching young people about programming and the capabilities of robots to sense their environments and respond accordingly.
Overall, Botley 2.0 is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a screen-free STEM resource. The activity kit is easy to install and operate, making it ideal for novice programmers. Additionally, more experienced users will find it enjoyable to experiment with and create increasingly challenging tasks for younger children. While our unit’s black line sensor light stopped working, the Botley 2.0 is still a fantastic robot with a variety of coding features that provide a lot of fun for kids.
The Botley 2.0 Activity Set costs $84.99 ($64.99 for the robot only) and can be purchased on Amazon or the Learning Resources website. Optional accessories like the Crashin’ Building Accessory Set and Action Challenge Accessory Set are also available for purchase to expand your coding adventures.
Robobloq Qobo is a STEM toy robot specially designed for children between the ages of 3 to 8 years old. It comes with a Puzzle Card, which makes it easy for kids to start learning how to code without a screen. Qobo is a fun and interactive way to introduce your child to STEM education and develop their problem-solving skills.
To use Qobo, simply arrange and link the cards (starting with the start code and ending with the red gem) to make it move, sing, flash, and interact. The game’s tutorial is fantastic, and there are multiple ways to play with Qobo. The Qobo robot can also be programmed via a computer to offer a unique learning experience for more advanced students.
We believe that Robobloq Qobo is an excellent tool to keep young children engaged and enthusiastic about learning while also reducing their screen time. The more they use it, the better they’ll get at coding. Qobo’s interactive play and observation make it a fantastic way to teach kids the fundamentals of programming. Overall, we highly recommend Qobo to parents looking for a fun and educational toy for their kids.
The Robobloq Qobo Robot is priced at around $89.99 and is available at various online retailers.
Are you looking for a toy that combines the classic appeal of wooden toys with modern technology? Look no further than Robobloq’s Coding Express. This high-tech robotic train is designed to introduce young children to the basics of programming in a fun and engaging way.
The Coding Express train responds to stickers with different colors and color combinations. Children can experiment with placing the stickers in different sequences and patterns to create unique commands for the train. This is a hands-on, screen-free way for young children to explore coding and programming.
Coding Express has been a hit with both parents and kids. Children of various ages can enjoy it because it is a high-quality toy. The only drawback is that the reverse sides of the stickers might become dirty with use, but this can be easily managed by storing the extra sticker sheets away.
Overall, if you’re looking for a fun and educational toy that combines traditional wooden playthings with modern technology, Robobloq’s Coding Express is a great choice.
You can purchase just the train and stickers, or the whole kit with wooden tracks, from Amazon for $39.99.
If you’re looking for a screen-free way to introduce your child to the world of coding, the Kinderlabs Robotics KIBO robot kits are worth considering. These STEAM-focused kits use wooden building blocks, motors, sensors, and other components to teach children the fundamentals of programming in a fun and engaging way.
Children can use the KIBO building blocks to create programs by arranging the blocks in a specific order. The blocks are then scanned using the built-in scanner, which reads the barcodes on the blocks and executes the program. The KIBO unit can be programmed to move forward, backward, left, right, or even throw ping pong balls with the programmable rubber band-powered throwing arm.
Once the basics of programming are mastered, children can move on to using conditional statements and repeat blocks. Velcro-fastened cards can be attached to the “if” block to represent conditions like “until dark” or “near,” and the “repeat” block can be used to store conditional cards like “4” or “forever.”
While the Kinderlabs Robotics KIBO robot kits are not cheap, they offer a valuable screen-free way to introduce young children to the world of coding. The kits are engaging and fun, and the wooden building blocks with brightly colored labels are easy for children to understand and use. The programmable rubber band-powered throwing arm and sound player adds a fun twist to the learning process, and expansion options are available for those who want to take their programming skills to the next level.
Overall, if you’re looking for a way to teach your child coding without the use of a screen, the Kinderlabs Robotics KIBO robot kits are definitely worth considering.
People of all ages can enjoy Ozobot Evo, a small but powerful robot that offers a gradual introduction to programming. In this review, we will explore the key features, how to use it for coding, the conclusion, and recommendation, and the price point.
Ozobot Evo’s Color Codes provide a screen-free and tangible approach to coding that can help children as young as six years old learn programming fundamentals. With Color Codes, students can draw lines of different colors on paper to create a program for the robot to follow. The codes represent different commands such as turning, speeding up, or slowing down. The Evo’s sensor reads the colors and follows the path created by the codes.
To get started with Color Codes, Ozobot Evo’s lesson library, blog, and webinars provide helpful resources. Students can get a feel for programming fundamentals by using markers to draw out simple programs. Color codes are a fantastic tool for giving concrete form to concepts that could otherwise only exist in the digital realm.
In addition to Color Codes, Ozobot Evo also offers a range of games and puzzles that help teach coding concepts without the need for a screen. The games include activities such as navigating mazes, solving puzzles, and completing challenges by entering the correct codes.
Ozobot Evo’s versatility allows for multiple ways to code and play without a screen, making it a great tool for introducing programming concepts to young learners in a hands-on and engaging way.
Overall, Ozobot Evo is a fun and engaging robot toy that offers a gradual introduction to programming. The ability to personalize the experience and the inclusion of game elements set this apart from more standard coding courses. Its flexible pedagogy helps students of all ages and backgrounds become competent coders.
The company provides a wealth of resources available for both students and teachers, including in-app instructions, how-to videos, responsive customer service, and a sizable online educator community.
The Ozobot Evo is recommended for children and beginners who are looking for an entertaining way to learn programming fundamentals. It is a great choice for educators looking for a flexible, portable, and cost-effective solution for introducing programming in the classroom.
The Ozobot Evo is priced at around $100, making it an affordable option for parents and educators. It comes with starter activities and stickers in the free Evo Experience Pack that can be acquired from the Ozobot website.
Do you want to introduce your child to the exciting world of coding? Look no further than the Fisher-Price Code-a-Pillar Twist. With this toy, kids as young as three can develop their problem-solving and sequencing skills while having a blast.
Kids can experiment with the Code-a-Pillar Twist by repeatedly applying instructions in a new order until they get the bug to perform the desired action. By switching out the various colored and illuminated parts, they can alter the bug’s behavior and develop critical thinking skills such as problem-solving, planning, and sequencing.
If you want to motivate your child to grow into a mature thinker and learner, the Fisher-Price Think & Learn toys are an excellent choice. With engaging play, adorable characters, and exciting surprises, these toys get kids ready for school while encouraging them to experiment with new ideas and learn how things function. The Code-a-Pillar Twist is a perfect example of this, as it combines fun and education to create a valuable learning experience for kids.
You can purchase the Fisher-Price Code-a-Pillar Twist on Amazon.com for $54.
Are you looking for a screen-free way to introduce your child to coding? Look no further than the Code & Go Robot Mouse! This adorable little robot mouse is a great way to get your child excited about coding and teach them some important skills along the way.
Using the Code & Go Robot Mouse is easy! First, set up the maze board and place the mouse at the starting point. Then, have your child use the coding cards to create a sequence of movements for the mouse. Once they’ve created their code, they can press the button on the mouse’s back to make it move through the maze. If the mouse runs into an obstacle, it will stop and turn around before continuing on its path.
As your child becomes more comfortable with the coding cards, you can introduce more complex commands and challenge them to create more intricate sequences. The Code & Go Robot Mouse is a great way to help children develop their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills while having fun.
Overall, the Code & Go Robot Mouse is a fantastic tool for teaching children the basics of coding. It’s simple to use and provides a fun and engaging way for children to learn important skills. We highly recommend it for parents and educators looking to introduce children to the world of coding.
The Code & Go Robot Mouse is priced at $59.99, making it an affordable option for families and educators. It’s a great investment in your child’s education and a fun way to spend time together as a family.
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