Programming for children: 15 toys that make a child genius

Toys that teach programming

1. Roobo Pudding S «Emelja"

• Age: 3 years.

Multifunctional robot assistant for the little ones. Cute bun with expressing emotions eyes acts as a voice assistant, baby monitors, and security system. "Emelya" entertains a child and watching him, not allowing bored. The robot is able to tell stories, to include music as well as answer questions.

Programming itself is not, but the kids can make the robot to say phrases and maintain a conversation with him. The device is more appropriate as a helper for parents, and as a way of familiarizing with technological gadgets.

Buy for 5 990 rubles →

2. Ozobot Bit

• Age: 5 years.

The tiny size of a programmable robot chocolate egg. Equipped with optical sensors and actuators, which allow it to recognize the team color and go on the table. Ozobot Bit understand the code, which is written on the screen of your smartphone or plain colored markers on paper.

The robot is drawn out of the maze and moving according to predetermined commands, rotating and affirming action using LEDs. In a more advanced programming mode of action are assembled from ready-made blocks through the web editor.

Buy for 6590 rubles →

3. Xiaomi MITU Smart Building Blocks Robot

• Age: from 6 years old.

relatively simple Xiaomi designer with programming functions. The set consists of a main unit with the Bluetooth-module, block servo and another compartment with two penlight batteries. In addition, there is a set of more than 300 different parts that can be assembled moving animals and machines.

The assembly is carried out on an interactive 3D-instructions in a mobile application. It also serves as a remote control when connected via Bluetooth smartphone. And here there are commands editor that allows you to program the robot assembled to perform a particular action sequence.

Buy for 3 190 rubles →

4. Sphero SPRK +

• Age: 8 years.

Futuristic robot as a transparent sphere which resembles BB-8 from droida "Star wars"And move in the same way. The waterproof casing Sphero SPRK + integrated gyro, accelerometer and motor, capable to accelerate the toy speed of 2 m / s.

Koloboks can be controlled via a virtual joystick on your smartphone or tablet, but much more interesting to ask him in advance algorithm of actions, which will act as a robot. Programming is available in two modes: in the visual editor with commands and blocks, with a text code.

Buy for 10 990 rubles →

5. Ubtech Jimu Inventor

• Age: 8 years.

The whole training complex, offering great opportunities for creativity, which are limited only by the imagination. Set Jimu Inventor consists of 675 pieces, among which are the "brain" and 16 servo drives, allowing you to capture moving robots that can execute commands for a given scenario.

The mobile application is available step by step instructions for assembling dinosaur, mantis, and three other humanoid characters. Ready robots are controlled via a smartphone or automatically perform actions according to the customized algorithms. The programming is carried out in Blockly open environment with a visual block editor commands.

Buy for 27,990 rubles →

6. Xiaomi Mi Bunny MITU

• Age: 10 years.

A more advanced version of the robotic designers Xiaomi, which, in essence, It is a copy LEGO Mindstorms. And it is fully compatible with its details. The main unit is equipped with a speaker and microphone, LED indicator and switch. It connects the two servos to build balancing robot on wheels and other models.

As usual, used as a remote smartphone. He also serves as a digital guide with tips for the assembly, as well as editor commands for programming algorithms. In addition, Mi Bunny MITU understands voice commands and is able to move along the drawn trajectory on the smartphone screen.

Buy for 5190 rubles →

7. LEGO Mindstorms EV3

• Age: 10 years.

The most technologically advanced designer, who became the founder of all robotic toys with the programming function. Mindstorms EV3 contains most sensors and communication modules has a gyroscope, an ultrasonic sensor, light sensor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more. designer to easily scale by acquiring additional modules for more complex projects.

600 different pieces can be assembled 17 ready-made models that move, react to obstacles, draw simple graphics and other functions. Own development limited to fantasy. For Mindstorms EV3 programming using the official software algorithms and then loaded into the main unit.

Buy from 21,154 rubles →

Computer and mobile games that will teach the child program

1. Code Karts

• Age: from 4 years old.

Game application for the youngest, with which you can instill a love of programming for children of preschool age. Code Karts is aimed at the development of care, logic and ability to solve problems. To move a race car to the finish line, you need to make a sequence of actions to avoid obstacles, use catapults and accelerator on the track.

2. LEGO Mindstorms Fix Factory

• Age: from 6 years old.

Exciting puzzle from LEGO, which is necessary to control the robot from the same set of Mindstorms EV3 and solve a variety of tasks to advance the plot. AIM accepts commands from which players must create simple algorithms. Movement, moving objects, interaction with the equipment - for all this will have to be the right sequence of actions, and from level to level, they will be increasingly difficult.

3. Box Island

• Age: from 6 years old.

Despite the cartoon look to Box Island children will be engaged in more than a serious visual programming. Traveling on a colorful three-dimensional island, they playfully get acquainted with loops, conditional statements and other basics of programming, but will also be able to practice algorithmic thinking and recognition images.

4. Scratch

• Age: 8 years.

A complete platform to teach children programming and design, which is a project development team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. With the help of simple tools Scratch allows you to create animations and mini games directly in your browser. There are a huge number of ready-made templates and instructional videos in Russian, which will help to realize any projects.

Go to the site →

5. Codecombat

• Age: 8 years.

Online platform for JavaScript studying, learning which is built on the RPG-games and literally woven into the gameplay. Already from the first level children get used to write code using built-in tips. Performing gaming activities and interacting with the characters, they get used to the syntax and train in preparation of efficient algorithms.

Go to the site →

6. Human Resource Machine

• Age: from 9 years.

A fun puzzle game from the creators of the famous World of GooWhere children will learn the basics of visual programming, playing for the automation specialist. The main task - to optimize office processes by creating an algorithm of actions for each of the employees of a small team.

7. while True: learn ()

• Age: of 12 years.

Atmospheric game of negligent specialist in machine learning. He writes recognition system feline language, to understand your pet, which turns out to know how to program better host. Players will explore the logic of the creation of neural networks, chat-bots, and more. In the while True: learn () a lot of complex mechanics, but lacking clues, too, and the whole thing in Russian.

8. EXAPUNKS

• Age: of 12 years.

Tightening simulator hacker. Last create viruses and hacks into the server of banks, universities, factories and other establishments. In EXAPUNKS need to write real code, and for the understanding of the nuances of the gameplay will have to print out PDF-file manual and read it carefully. The game is very interesting and authentic, but for total immersion requires proficiency in English - there is no localization, and at random will not turn to act.