The Courier

I am sure the words ‘educational toys’ will fill most children with dread at Christmas time, with the thought of unwrapping a calculator or 11+ Revision Guide enough to bring most to tears… but if you are looking for a late gift or something to spend Christmas money on, there are some fantastic (and fun!) coding related toys on the market.  Here are a few examples to whet your appetite, but there are plenty more on the market to consider.

Botley the Robot

For younger children (4-7) I would thoroughly recommend Botley the Robot (botleybot.com), a fully programmable, cheery little robot with detachable arms and light-up eyes. Botley works in a very similar way to the Bee-bots we use in school, it can move up to 150 steps in six directions, including avoiding objects, making sounds or going in a loop. It’s absolutely brilliant for learning the basics of algorithms, logic, repetition loops, prediction and comes with a great remote control (so no need for additional apps or iPads) and a set of challenge cards that keeps things interesting. 

Osmo Coding Starter Kit

Another superb piece of technology for getting younger children (4-8 years) into coding is one of the fantastic Osmo coding kits. Using an iPad or similar, Osmo is a coding set that's all about using colourful magnetic coding blocks to control on-screen characters to solve puzzles, create music and much more. Most sets come with a base for iPad or FireTablet (be sure to order the kit that's compatible with your tablet), a 31-piece Tangible Coding Block set, stackable storage, and access to multiple coding apps. It can be used to develop a wide range of computational skills including logic, coding fundamentals, basics of programming, solve coding puzzles, teamwork, listening, critical thinking, observation, creative problem solving, music creation and pattern recognition. 

Lego BOOST Creative Toolbox

There are few educational toys that come close to Lego for fun and creativity, and the BOOST Creative Toolbox is no different. Aimed at ages 7+ years, it allows you to build five robots and vehicles, one at a time, and then control the finished creations using the app. Kids will learn mechanics thanks to the building stage, and programming through the dozens of challenges in the app for which users must direct the robots to complete various tasks. All without realising they are learning at all – genius! 

Wonder Workshop Cue Robot 

Finally for older children with a passion for coding and looking for the next challenge, comes the Wonder Workshop Cue Robot. Cue is designed to take coding enthusiasts to the next level, transitioning from beginner-level block-based programming to text-based and state-machine programming, including JavaScript. Once kids have chosen their custom avatar for the robot, Cue comes alive with 40 challenges to complete on the accompanying app. Through the app, you can use the powered wheels to direct Cue around, and watch the robot avoid obstacles with the proximity sensors. And if you master all of the built-in features, you can buy accessories that will let you use coding to draw, pick up objects and even fire projectiles. Its pricey, but in my opinion well worth it!

Have a wonderful Christmas.