Encouraging logical thinking, problem-solving and creative thinking, children can choose from the available ramps, crossovers, bits, interceptors and gears to find solutions via hands-on screen-free fun. Pros Children can build a pathway using the maze pieces included, before using the coding cards to create a step-by-step path for Colby to follow. Once the path has been programmed, Colby will race off on his journey to find his cheese, lighting up and making cute sounds as he goes.

Soon your kids will have this durable and waterproof ball rolling around obstacles, navigating predetermined pathways and even following directions on a map.Botley is a colorful robot and remote control combo that teaches kids beginner code. Children can program theirBotley coding robot by entering a code on the remote and then ask Botley to ‘run the code’. If you’re looking to introduce your child to some basic elements of computer science but don’t want to pay the significant price tag often associated with coding toys, Galt Cosmic Coding is a fun, budget-friendly choice. Robo Alive toys are popular amongst Mumsnet users and it’s not hard to see why. Offering good value for money, these robotic characters powered by motor spring to life to reveal realistic movements and actions.

There are many awesome toys on the market that help teach kids to code, but most of them involve more screen time, which I’ve been trying to limit with my 8-year-old daughter. Still, I want her to learn as much about STEM concepts as possible, so I was excited when I heard that Botley the Coding Robot is a robot that kids can program with a simple remote—no tablet or phone screen required. We spent some time with Botley to see if it could keep her attention and understand the basics of coding. Read on to see if it worked. Coming in at about 3 lbs and sized to fit in an adult palm, Botley is a small, friendly looking robot and can be programmed to perform a variety of tasks.For example, you can code Botley to move 4 steps forward, and 1 turn right. You can then later program it to go 1 forward, make another 1 turn right and move 4 steps forward and flash its lights. The end result will be that Botley now does a nice U-turn and flashes its lights at you. The Dash robot is fab, they have them at my daughter's school and I've been able to play with them a few times. I'm going to get one for my daughter for her birthday - she will be six but it grows with them as the tasks get more and more complicated.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Jerseysilkvelour)

Computers are controlled by computer programsor ‘code’ – sets of instructions that tell them what to do. When people create these instructions they are coding or programming. Editor's Note (September 2023): This product review was originally written and published in 2020. To make sure we are still recommending the best products for your needs, we recently reviewed this story to make sure it is still accurate and that we stand by what we wrote. Despite newer models and options being available, we still feel confident that this product is one of the best choices, and therefore have included it in The Best STEM Toys for Girls.Bot boogie! That’s right, Botley 2.0 loves to party. Watch as it performs a dazzling light show and dances to the beat! Key specs: Recommended Age: Ages 7+ | Batteries included: No, 6 AAA batteries required Reasons to buy: