These Robotics Kits Make Great Gifts for Your Little Genius

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No doubt STEM-based schoolwork is part of your kid’s curriculum. But if you’re seeking enrichment at home for things like programming and basic logic and engineering skills, it has to be fun. That’s what makes robotics for kids a win-win. Robotics kits reinforce those skills and give budding inventors the chance to be creative on their own outside the classroom.

But with so many robot toys on the market, choosing the right one for your child may not be so straightforward—particularly if you’re unfamiliar with the basics that robotics kits teach. To help you with the task, we’ve compiled a lineup of editor-approved options that are sure to keep kids engaged and entertained while they learn. Below, we share some advice on what to consider before you start shopping, followed by reviews of the best robot toys for kids we recommend—all of which happen to make great last-minute holiday gifts or stocking stuffers.

The Best Robot Toys for Kids

• For Solar-Powered Fun: Sillbird 12-in-1 Solar Robot Toy

• For Elementary School Kids: Wonder Workshop Dash Coding Robot

• For Lego Lovers: Lego Star Wars Droid Commander

• For Teaching the Basics: Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set

• For Learning Electronics: Makeblock mBot Robotics Coding Kit
  

What to Consider

Skills Beyond STEM

Studies show that, in addition to STEM literacy, robotics can impart other skills like hands-on creativity, problem solving, communication, and teamwork. So teaching robotics isn’t just about setting up your kid to have a career as a computer programmer or engineer—it equips them with tech know-how and critical thinking they’ll need for virtually any type of education or work.

Age Range

While you may think robotics clubs are only for middle and high schoolers, research has shown that children are also able to master basic robotics and programming skills when they’re introduced in pre-K to second grade. Many of these kits are appropriate for children as young as 3 years old, while some are more advanced and for kids ages 8 and up.

Cost

There are plenty of robotics kits that run under $50 if you aren’t sure your kids are going to enjoy this kind of play and learning. Pricier options over $100 offer more complexity and can often grow with the kids, since they’re customizable to continue challenging them as they get older and gain experience.

How We Selected

During our research, we drew from our collective experience covering STEM toys and equipment for kids, writing on topics like the best microscopes and the best graphing calculators, and read through studies on the importance of STEM education. To make our selections, we looked for kits from reputable companies within the robotics space, such as Learning Resources and Wonder Workshop. While evaluating each kit, we gauged value for the price (especially because some kits cost upwards of $100), the STEM topics it covers, as well as how intuitive and (just as importantly) fun it is to use, according to parents’ reviews. We also considered a wide variety of toys to account for different kids’ interests, ages, and skill levels.

For more STEM experience recommendations, check out our picks for the best remote-control toys, science kits, and drones for kids.

12-in-1 Solar Robot Toy

If you’re on the search for a robot kit with great value and a variety of options, we’ve found it. This one from Sillbird includes the pieces necessary to build one of 12 different robots.

There are two levels of complexity—entry level and advanced. Plus, if your family is a little more environmentally conscious, this robot is solar-powered, meaning there are no batteries required. This toy helps your child develop dexterity and problem-solving skills. And it’s hard to beat the price.

Dash Coding Robot

For parents who want to introduce kids to coding or build their skills, Wonder Workshop’s Dash is a smart choice for kids ages 6 and up. Compared to kits that require extensive building before they’re up and running, Dash comes charged and ready for about 5 hours of playtime. The coding toy is compatible with Lego, and the set includes two building brick connectors, plus kids can add their own Lego bricks to make other creations.

There are also four free apps to download that take kids from beginner concepts to more advanced ones.

Star Wars Droid Commander

You can always count on Lego to be fun and engaging, but this robot kit adds some coding elements to the classic toy. The 1,177-piece set includes three Lego Star Wars droids—R2-D2, a Gonk Droid, and a Mouse Droid—along with a color and distance sensor and an interactive motor. Kids can program the droids to embark on 40 different missions.

Like most robotics kits, it’s also compatible with its own smartphone app, called Lego Boost, available on iOS, Android, Kindle, and Windows 10 devices.

Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set

This 77-piece activity set is reasonably priced and gives kids ages 5 and up a solid base for coding and robotics concepts. Botley the Coding Robot comes to life with an easy-to-use remote, so there are no apps to download (and no screen time). The kit includes coding activity sheets along with plenty of fun accessories to create obstacle courses.

mBot Robotics Coding Kit

Makeblock’s mBot is an excellent toy for young programmers, as the small robot takes about 15 minutes to build using an easy-to-follow guide and step-by-step instructions in 3D. Kids can start coding in Scratch, a graphic programming language, with free included software. Plus there’s an app with 60 game-based tasks to challenge kids and help them advance their skills.

MeeBot 2.0 Building and Coding STEM Robot

Finding any toy that entertains and teaches is like striking gold. With this robotics kit, kids learn coding skills while watching a goofy, adorable robot perform its best dance moves. There are eight potential Blockly coding actions for kids to master, using the brand’s free app to make it happen. With a total of nearly 400 pieces to put together, they may keep at it long enough to ignore text messages from friends.

Bolt: App-Enabled Robot Ball

There’s a lot to like about this cute robot ball. It’s reasonably priced for what it offers, with a super-cool LED matrix that shows off characters and vector graphics, programmable sensors, and a top-speed of 4.5 mph. Once basic skills are mastered, young coders can move on to learning JavaScrip, Scratch, and Swift. Another plus is this robot toy’s durability; it’s waterproof and scratch-resistant.

Mythical Series: Robot Dragon

While every toy here is worthy of being gift wrapped, this rad robotic dragon takes first place as the coolest. The kit includes 606 pieces, and kids can use Blockly to make the dragon’s snout glow red or blue and activate its wings to flap.

There’s a free app to download to get 3D step-by-step building instructions, and it comes with a DC motor, touch-sensor, gears, and more.

Electric Motors Catalyst STEM Kit

This kit allows kids to build and rebuild robots, cars, and creatures of their own imagination. It’s perfect for the budding inventor who likes to tinker with things around the house. Protective goggles and a screwdriver accompany the included wooden pieces, electric motors and batteries, and hardware and tools. There’s also a game element—10 playing cards that challenge kids to build various creations on the spot.

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