Pros

• 12 robot designs in one kit
• Two levels of build difficulty
• No batteries required

Cons

• Solar charging may take time with such a small panel

If you’re on the search for a robot kit with a variety of play options and isn’t too expensive, this is it. The solar robot toy from Sillbird includes the pieces necessary to build 12 different robot designs, so your kid will never run out of new ways to play.

The robotics kit offers two levels of difficulty, with half of the builds being simpler to assemble while the other half are more complex. So, once your kid masters the easier builds, they can move on to more challenging designs all without ever needing a new toy.

A unique feature of this robot in particular is its power source. Instead of burning through heaps of batteries like other robot toys, it relies exclusively on an integrated solar panel that sits on the robot’s head. Whenever it slows down, simply place it in some sunshine and wait for it to recharge.

Key Specs

Recommended Age Range	10 years and up
Assembly Required	Yes
Number of Pieces	190

Pros

• Compatible with Lego
• Four free apps included

Cons

• Code cannot be directly compared through the robot in real time

For parents who want to introduce young kids to coding or build confidence in their new skills, Wonder Workshop’s Dash is a smart choice for young enthusiasts. Where many kits require extensive building before they’re up and running, Dash comes fully assembled and ready for about five hours of playtime before it needs a charge.

Each Dash is programmed to respond to external stimuli, so it can recognize and respond to dancing, singing, and the sound of your voice.

This coding toy is compatible with Lego, and allowing kids use it as a base for making their own Lego creations. There are also four free apps to download that give kids fun coding project ideas, from beginner concepts to more advanced ones as they gradually get the hang of programming.

Key Specs

Recommended Age Range	6-11 years
Assembly Required	Yes
Number of Pieces	N/A

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Pros

• Three droids to build in one kit
• 40 coding missions to complete

Cons

• Only comes with one motor between the three droids

You can always count on Lego to be fun and engaging, but this kit throws in some coding and robotics to the classic building experience. This 1,177-piece set includes three Lego Star Wars droids—R2-D2, a Gonk Droid, and a Mouse Droid. Each of the droids looks like a standard Lego creation, but are designed to hold color and distance sensors, as well as an interactive motor.

Once they’re built, kids can use the free Lego Boost smartphone app to program their droids, and give them 40 different coding missions. Lego Boost is available on iOS, Android, Kindle, and Windows 10 devices.

With additional pieces included in the kit, kids can build and attach tools and weapons directly onto the droid for extra fun as they play.

Key Specs

Recommended Age Range	8 years and up
Assembly Required	Yes
Number of Pieces	1,177

Pros

• Perfect for beginners
• No screen time required
• Easy-to-use remote programmer

Cons

• No add-ons for more advanced skills

This 77-piece activity set is reasonably priced and is perfect for beginners to coding and robotics. Botley the Coding Robot comes to life with an easy-to-use remote, so there are no apps to download (and no screen time involved). All coding is done directly on the remote control and Botley can be programmed to follow up to 120 steps in a row.

The kit includes coding activity sheets to help beginners learn the basics and get the most out of their robot. The kit also comes with several fun accessories including black line pieces that Botley can follow on its own like a track as well as several cubes and rods you can use to build obstacle courses.

Key Specs

Recommended Age Range	5-8 years
Assembly Required	Ready-to-use
Number of Pieces	77

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Pros

• Compatible with Lego bricks
• 60 programming game tasks

Cons

• Lots of small pieces to keep track of

Makeblock’s mBot is an excellent toy for young programmers looking to challenge their knowledge and electronics skill in practical application. The small robot takes about 15 minutes to build using an easy-to-follow guide and step-by-step instructions in 3D.

Kids learn to code in Scratch, a graphic programming language, with free included software. There’s also an app with 60 game-based tasks to challenge kids and help them advance their skills.

The robot itself also has several features that expand its range of capabilities such as the line follower sensor, the infrared sensor for the remote control, and the Bluetooth chip for controlling the bot from your phone. The toy is compatible with Lego bricks and has four expansion ports where you can add additional parts later on.

Key Specs

Recommended Age Range	8-12 years
Assembly Required	Yes
Number of Pieces	N/A

Pros

• Multiple sensors to program
• App gives access to learn major coding languages

Cons

• Some users had difficulty connecting to Bluetooth

There’s a lot to like about this very cute little robot ball. It’s reasonably priced for what it offers, has a super-cool LED matrix that shows off characters and vector graphics, and boasts a top-speed of 4.5 mph. The Sphero also has built-in sensors that detect light, cardinal directions, gyroscopic direction, and speed.

What makes this robot special is how it allows users to grow along with it. Once basic skills are mastered, young coders can move on to learning JavaScript, Scratch, and Swift.

Another plus is this robot toy’s durability. It’s waterproof and scratch-proof so young explorers can take it outside through ponds and over rocks.

Key Specs

Recommended Age Range	8 years and up
Assembly Required	No
Number of Pieces	N/A

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Pros

• Blank skin for kids to draw on
• Hands-on building at an approachable level

Cons

• Final jumping mechanism can be underwhelming

Robotics toys are, at their core, building toys. This kit from KiwiCo comes with internal motor pieces, external body parts, and blank robot skins so kids can design their own robot.

The finished product uses springs and a spinning mechanism to help the robot jump forward and rotate its arms. The key reason we like this kit so much is how well it focuses on hands-on application.

Unlike other options that are based in coding and higher level thinking, this helps kids work with their hands and see how each individual piece interacts with the other.

Key Specs

Recommended Age Range	9 years and up
Assembly Required	Yes
Number of Pieces	33

Pros

• Snap-on pieces make electronics connections easy
• Kids can code on their own once they master the app

Cons

• Assembly can be very tedious

Coding and basic electrical engineering are the focuses of this rover from Snap Circuits. Kids are challenged to build a full circuit board piece by piece, with 30 parts to snap together, and then attach the board to the wheeled base.

Once the rover is built, kids code commands and directions for their “missions,” including patterns of flashing lights and sounds to get into the action.

One of the great things about this robot toy is that it takes kids from beginner to intermediate as their skills improve. After kids get a grasp of how to code through the app, they can create more advanced commands on their own using Blockly.

The robot also functions as a fun remote-control car that kids can drive in real time through the app.

Key Specs

Recommended Age Range	8 years and up
Assembly Required	Yes
Number of Pieces	N/A

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Pros

• Comes with prompt cards for new creations
• Wooden pieces

Cons

• No coding element

This kit encourages kids to build and rebuild the robots, cars, and creatures of their dreams. It’s perfect for the budding inventor who likes to tinker with things around the house. There’s even a game element—10 playing cards that challenge kids to build various creations on the spot.

Protective goggles and a screwdriver accompany the included wooden pieces, electric motors and batteries, and hardware and tools. All the wooden pieces fit together easily and are designed with multiple purposes in mind.

While there is no coding element to the toy, its main focus is on helping kids build creative solutions to prompts and bolster their engineering and problem-solving skills.

Key Specs

Recommended Age Range	8-12 years
Assembly Required	Yes
Number of Pieces	50+

10

What to Consider

Build Skills Beyond STEM

Studies show that in addition to STEM literacy, robotics can help develop core 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.

Choose toys that allow your kid to use their imagination and play out multiple different situations, both real and made up. Furthermore, make sure even if you want the toy to help them learn STEM skills, if still fits their interests and passions. A toy that gets played with often will help them learn a lot more than a more educational one that collects dust.

Age Range Matters a Lot

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 with an age suggestion of 8 and up. Before you buy, check the recommended age range listed by the company or on the box to make sure you’re choosing a robotics kit that challenges your kid while still being accessible to them.

You Don’t Have to Spend a Ton to Get Something Great

You don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars right away on a robot, especially if your kids are still learning what they like. 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.

Tom Price is a reviews editor for Popular Mechanics while also contributing to Runner’s World, Best Products, and Bicycling. Here at Popular Mechanics, Tom loves testing out home appliances, smart tech, gear for city life and outdoor adventures, small gadgets like watches and multitools, and anything else you can find piled up at his hoarder’s nest of a desk.

Prior to working here, Tom attended NYU, graduating with a degree in English and a minor in creative writing. He also wrote for Best Reviews, The Daily Beast, and other publications covering tech, fitness gear, gadgets, and lifestyle products. Furthermore, he covered startup news, pop culture, and even professional wrestling. To follow more of his work, check back here for new stories.

Rachel is the Deputy Editor of Reviews for Hearst’s Enthusiast and Wellness Group where she supports Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and Best Products. Her background is in service journalism and earlier in her career she worked as a daily newspaper reporter and book editor. She spent more than a decade as a staff editor and writer at TripAdvisor and Penguin Random House and her byline has appeared in Time Out New York, the New York Daily News, and New York Magazine. Outside of work, Rachel can be found planning her next trip, visiting museums and galleries, and walking her wirehaired dachshund in Central Park.