Programming Toys for Toddlers

 

As a mom, who does not know anything about programming, I am looking out for toys which would introduce programming to my little girls.
So the selection went like this:
1. For toddlers to preschoolers
2. Without screen
Maybe it is silly to think about programming, and avoiding screen, applications, and thus programming languages, but I see it as a way of thinking and approach to solving problems. I do not want to push them in IT direction, just want them to be familiar with it, same as I am „learning“ second language with them. Just spontaneously, through the game.

So, as I found out, these are available toys:
• Cubetto
• KIBO
• Robot Turtles
• Hello Ruby

Cubetto

Photo: Primo toys
Cubetto is designed to teach programming concepts to young kids (3+). The idea is that you have a wooden robot, which is lost and need to come back. For returning it, you have a programming board and 16 programming blocks.
To program, you use the “blocks”–flat plastic pieces with a little handle on the base. These handles fit into the openings on the board, situated in the correct heading. The states of the squares additionally coordinate the course of development. The green pieces are for “push ahead” and point toward the program. Red and yellow pieces turn left and right, and are bended with an indicate either side. At last, the blue “resound” square will run whatever arrangement is set in the rectangle at the base of the board. I am not sure if yo so young children understand the concept of left and right, at least my do not, so I would put stickers on the robot to visually pair left and right with the blocks.
You can place Cubetto anywhere in the room, and program it to go to some direction, or you can use Primo s designed maps and activity book.

KIBO

Photo: Vuvuzle.com
KIBO is a programming toy aimed at kids from ages four to seven.
The toy makes use of blocks, containing a series of instructions on them, which follow a similar format to the main programming languages, e.g. a stop and start block. You set up a line of these blocks, scan a robot along their surface and in this way control its resulting actions

• Robot Turtles

Photo: robotturtles.com
Robot Turtules are motivated by the Logo programming dialect, aimed for children 4+.
The idea is to give  children a chance to compose programs with playing cards. Players direct the developments of their Robot Turtle tokens on an amusement board by playing essential Code Cards: Forward, Left and Right. At the point when a player’s Robot Turtle achieves a gem they win. In the event that they commit an error, they can utilize a Bug Card to fix a move.
The game has Beginner to Advanced levels – as the players propel they experience obstructions, for example, Ice Walls, and utilize more mind boggling Code Cards (like lasers to dissolve the dividers).

Hello Ruby

Photo: kickstarter.com
Well, I fell in love with this one. It is a story book about the girl named Ruby who has an fantastic imagination and she goes on adventures. Book and workbook aim to teach the very foundations of technology, and they are aimed for kids 4+. Hello Ruby has also a „screen“ content, a web site with lots of activities.

 

For me programming is about developing a computational thinking mindset, to help kids to think logically and critically. The skills they acquire while playing with coding toys will benefit them in different areas, and that is the point, not to learn a specific coding language.