With so many educational robot toys on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones are best for kids and which are more for adults. Especially when choosing robots for younger children. I think we’ve all purchased toys that ended up in the bottom of the toybox, never to be played with again. And the toy that our little one just had-to-have, well it’s lying right next to it!
We all want to find quality educational toys that build developmental skills and enhance our child’s learning experience. The right educational robot toys can create a love of learning that will last a lifetime! While others are sadly destined to end up at the bottom of the toybox.
Types of Robot Toys for Kids
There are so many fun robots on the market today that are great toys for kids. There are some that are just for fun and others that are educational, but if you have a child who is keen on mechanics and understanding how things work then any robot will likely be educational for them. Here is a list of different types of robots that your kids will love!
1. Zoomer Dino
This robot is particularly fun for those who are interested in dinosaurs. You can teach this little robotic dinosaur to dance, roar and run around. Imagine all of the toys and action figures that you had growing up but only this one can actually do tricks and things on its own. It can spin and interact with kids in a fun and exciting way, so it will guarantee your child a great time!
2. Sphero 2.0
This robot is basically a robotic ball. It uses lights and other interactive features to make it more engaging to kids. The cool thing about this one is that you can actually download lessons onto it that your kids can learn and enjoy! And since the robot is a simple sphere there are limited hazards and it can be safe for kids as young as five.
3. Wonder Workshop Dash Robot
This robot can connect with your child’s Legos and other toys as well. It is really easy to program so, depending on your child’s age, they shouldn’t need too much help from you. The cool thing about this robot is that it teaches your kids about coding and they can program the robot to do whatever they want it to do and learn about programming in the process!
4. Ollie
This robot was developed by the same company that developed the Sphero. The difference is that this robot can adjust to the terrain better and it also is quicker when it moves. You can program it to respond to commands like run or jump, and it can be customized in so many ways simply through your smartphone.
5. 4M Tin Can Robot
If you child has an inclination towards building things or being creative, then this robot will be a great option for them. This one allows your child to use the components and features to make their own robot design! It also uses an empty soda can as the body, so it can teach your little one a bit about recycling as well as mechanics.
6. mBot Robot Kit
This robot was not only designed for kids, but it was designed by kids! This is another educational robot that is designed to teach kids about programming. Your child will need to put the robot together themselves, which is part of the educational process. It shouldn’t take more than ten minutes to build and instead of code, they can simply use a drag and drop method to design the program for the robot.
7. Meccano MeccaNoid G15
This robot also allows your child to personalize it and has unique options for programming the robot. It is really cool because your kids can use a smart device like a tablet or phone to control it, but they can also utilize voice recognition if they prefer to interact with the robot in that way.
8. Romibo
This robot has been utilized in autism therapy and it has been really effective because it looks like a cute, furry character. It seems like a stuffed animal but it has an LED screen as its face and it has expressions that are designed by the person using it. It tells stories and says prompts based on how it is programmed and it can be a soothing tool for kids who deal with a lot of anxiety.
9. WowWee MiP Toy Robot
This robot is more responsive than most so it is easy for your child to interact with it. It has wheels that help it balance and navigate and the wheels are designed so that it can move from one type of terrain to another with more ease than most other robotic toys can. The robot can be programmed to follow commands, objects, hand gestures and more and it can also be designed to accomplish various tasks. It is one of the more affordable robots, so it can be accessed by more kids!
10. Cubelets
This robot set is interesting because it is like using blocks to build something. Each block is its own robot but as you connect them and build upon them, you can add more movement and life to the items that you are creating. These blocks have mathematical and logical functions and that will also serve as an educational tool for your child as they build their Cubelet creation!
Best Types of Robots Toys for Kids
When choosing a learning robot for your children or grandchildren, there are several features that you should look for.
First, and foremost, the robot toy should be fun for the child to play with. It should also be safe and appropriate for the child’s age. Discovery Toys, Inc. prides itself in offering age-appropriate, nonviolent toys.
Next, the Toy Robot should be durable. Who wants to spend money on a toy that breaks after their child plays with the toys just a couple of times? Not only does Discovery Toys, Inc. offer an unconditional satisfaction guarantee on all of our toys, we also offer replacement parts for their toys. How many times have you lost a piece to a toy and weren’t able to use the toy anymore? If you lose a piece to your Discovery Toy product, you can give me a call and I will get the replacement part right to you!
How long will the fun last?
When purchasing educational toys, you should also ask yourself if the toy can be played with in many ways. Will the child find many uses for the toy? You should consider if the child can play with one toy in several different ways. This helps children develop their creativity and expand their ideas.
The robot toy will also grow with the child as the child develops new skills and you will often find that the child will find different ways to play with the toy. I am always amazed at the great games my children come up with to play with their Discovery Toys products! And, I feel strongly that a child should be able to play with the toy with their parents or play with the toy independently.
Those are the reasons why choosing a robot toy that is age appropriate for the child is so critical.
Educational Robot Toys
An educational toy should also grow with the child, allowing them to play with the toy as their developmental needs change. At a younger age, a child may enjoy the visual and tactile stimulation a nubby ball offers. But as they grow, the child will begin to roll and catch the ball, delighting in their new game!
Educational toys should also engage the child’s interest and natural curiosity. You should be able to “see the wheels turning” in your child’s mind as they play with the toy! The toy should be challenging, but not so complex that it frustrates the child.
Conclusion
In the digital age, it is important for parents and educators to keep finding new ways to keep young kids engaged with learning and playing at the same time. The types of robots that are on the market right now are wide ranging and they all come with their beneficial features for the kids who utilize them.
Studies have shown that because young people are so exposed to electronics at younger and younger ages, their brains are becoming hard wired to absorb digital information and understand the mechanics of how technology works.
Traditional learning methods are becoming harder and harder for kids to maintain an interest in. Which makes these the Best Robots for Kids that make a difference in how your child incorporates learning into their playtime.
If you have questions about particular products, or specific developmental needs, please leave a comment below. I will be more than happy to help you select educational toys geared toward the needs of your child.
With my knowledge of product features and benefits, I can offer you guidance in your toy selections. I have had over 12 years of experience helping parents and educators choose toys for their children. I have also raised two wonderful daughters with these toys and I can give you input from that perspective as well.
