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Kids toys have come a long way since the dark ages. Nowadays, there are endless options for children to choose from – so we compiled a helpful list, so you can choose the best robot kit for kids.
We have to be honest – we loved playing with these toys. While they are most certainly fun, they’re also educational – STEM toys will always help build your child’s cognitive skills.
Of course, there are thousands of lackluster robot kits on the market, so we aggregated millions of actual customer reviews, and tested the top models. Here are the best robot kits for kids – batteries not included.
Our Top Pick
4M Tin Can Robot
This awesome kid’s toy is not only highly affordable – it literally teaches your kids the value of recycling, by turning an old can into a robot. It’s also backed by thousands of five-star customer reviews, and the detailed instructions make putting it together a total breeze.
While we also picked out more expensive options for our list, this is the first starter robot that everyone should buy. It costs barely more than a cup of coffee, but it teaches your children so much. Easily our top pick.
Other Great Picks
Sillbird STEM 12-In-1 Robot Toy
One of the best values on our entire list, this robot is really twelve different toys in one. It’s also backed by thousands of five-star customer reviews, and comes in at a budget price.
Essentially, this robot is pretty tough to beat, when it comes to an entry level toy for your child. While more advanced robot kits offer many more features, this is a great budget (or learner’s) option. A great pick.
Lego Boost Robot Building Set
With 847 pieces, this award-winning robot building set is another surefire winner. We had so much fun teaching our children how to put this together, and there are truly an endless number of possibilities here.
You can program a robot to dance, or even play guitar. While it is not a budget option, this set may be the only robot kit you ever need to buy. Definitely recommended.
Makeblock mBot Robot Kit
This clever robot kit was a joy to build, and it’s also very affordable. Despite costing a fraction of other models, it offers nearly all the same features.
There are also built-in games, which will help your child learn in no time. The bottom line, is that if you want to get your child into programming – this is a great entry point.
Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit
This robot car kit is insanely cool. We had a blast watching it learn to avoid walls, as well as watching it move its eyes for every turn it made.
You can control this robot car via your phone, which just makes it very fun to use. There are a lot of pieces to assemble the car, so you may need to help your child put it all together. With thousands of great user reviews, this is another winner.
Educational Insights Design & Drill Robot
This budget-priced robot is perfect for preschoolers – while still being educational. Your little one can learn how to use tools like screwdrivers, while still having fun.
And since it doesn’t cost much at all, it won’t matter if your little guy (or girl) breaks this one. We liked playing with it too, but it’s definitely not on the advanced end of things.
Giggleway Electric Motor Robotic Kit
This highly affordable robot kit is a lot of fun – plus it’s backed by tons of great customer reviews. The doodling robot (as well as the reptile robot) were particularly fun – we think your kids will get a big kick out of them.
While more advanced (and much more expensive) robot kits have even more features, for most people – this product strikes the right balance between affordability and functionality. Even younger kids should be able to complete this kit on their own – which makes it an invaluable toy.
Makeblock DIY Ultimate Robot Kit
This robot kit offers one of our all-time favorite modes – robotic bartender. With 10 different functions, and a programmable base, this is both tons of fun – and a great learning tool.
While it’s definitely not cheap, this robot kid is highly customizable. If you want to teach your child to code at an early age, this is a solid choice. Definitely recommended.
Sillbird STEM Robot For Kids
This affordable robot costs as little as a nice dinner – but it will provide a lifetime of entertainment. We loved being able to control it with voice command, and we know your little ones will love it too.
The remote control works well – even at a distance of 20 meters. You can also control this robot with your phone, which makes extremely futuristic – even though it costs hardly anything. Another great pick.
Lego Mindstorms EV3 31313 Robot Kit
With thousands of great user reviews, and a super cool finished product – this is another winner. We loved putting this robot together with our kids, and Lego always deliver well-engineered toys.
This is more of an adult toy than a kid’s toy, in some regards. You can not only build this guy – but then you can program him to do tasks, walk, grab things – and even talk. A really great choice, just a little more costly.
What Is A Robot Kit For Kids?
Robot kits are fun little toys that will also help build your child’s cognitive skills. The robots usually need to be assembled, and you can then control them and program them.
This is a far cry from the toys we had as children, as we were lucky to get any kind of robot. The idea of programming and assembling our own was definitely out of the question.
But now, kids have so many options, that getting them to even stay focused on building a robot, can be a challenge. We recommend helping them build it, so they stay focused on the task at hand.
Once you’ve built it, the real fun begins. You can trick out most of these robots to no end. They can clean things, move around, and generally perform any task you can think of.
Think of these like a DIY kid’s Roomba. You no longer have assemble boring model planes – these robots come to life, and may even talk to you.
What Do I Need In A Robot Kit For Kids?
There are a few key features to look for in a robot kit for kids. The first being price.
Do you want to spend hundreds of dollars, or just twenty? If you want a cheap robot kit for kids, then your options will be entirely different than the kits that cost hundreds.
As you might expect, the cheaper robot kits are fairly simplistic, while the pricier kits often have hundreds (or even thousands) of pieces. The next thing to consider, is age group.
Many robot kits won’t be good choices for preschoolers or kindergartners – but they will work great for older kids. If you to buy an advanced robot kit, you may need to help your child put all the pieces together.
What Is The Best Robotics Kit For Beginners?
There are many great robotic kits out there, but we think the 4M Tin Can Robot is the best beginner kit for robotics. It’s highly affordable, comes with complete instructions, and isn’t too confusing.
It’s a great way to teach children about recycling, as well as programming. It’s hard to recommend a better pick than this model, since it’s affordable, easy to learn, and lots of fun.
What About STEM Features?
If you are looking to maximize the STEM features of a robot kit for kids, you will want to choose a toy that shows them how to build (and control) the finished product. This will not only teach them robotics, it will show them engineering, as well as programming.
These three lucrative fields are at the very core of STEM – and they’re also much easier to learn at a young age. If you don’t care as much about having all of the STEM features covered, you can instead opt for a robot that’s already built, but one which your child can code with.
If you care the most about engineering and electronics, the best option is likely a kit that requires your child to build a robot from the ground up. You won’t need to worry about how programmable this bot is, so you can save some money in this regard.
What Age Levels Are The Best Robot Kits Appropriate For?
There are many different robot kits – all aimed at different age groups. Beginner robot kits can be used by children 5 or younger, while more advanced models can be used by 14 to 15 year olds.
To be honest, we loved playing with these robot kids – and we’re full-grown adults. Not only are they fun, they’re also educational – the perfect mix for kids of all ages.
Is C++ Better Than Python?
C++ and Python are two computer programming languages – and they are both useful. However, when it comes to robotics, C++ is used more often.
Python is often used in both data analysis and machine learning, so if your little one has an interest in either of these fields, it may be a better language for them to learn. C++ is also commonly used for game programming, in addition to robotics.
As it pertains to robotics, almost all hardware libraries are written in C++, so this alone makes them one of the most valuable languages for the entire field. While C and C++ are more difficult, and require more lines of code than Python – they are invaluable to have in your child’s toolkit.
Which Language Is Best For Robotics?
C or C++ are generally regarded as the best programming languages for robotics. The good news is, your children can start learning these computer languages very early on in life.
In fact, the sooner they learn them, the better they will be at programming. It’s much easier to learn a new skill when you’re younger, compared to waiting until later in life.
Not only will these toys help your children learn the basics of engineering and programming – they’ll have fun at the same time. Unlike when we were kids, these robots are very advanced – making the previously impossible – possible.
What Are The 5 Major Fields Of Robotics?
Is Robotics A Good Career?
Robotics is a burgeoning field, with top pay and numerous interesting job opportunities. In fact, besides programming, robotics is probably the biggest wave of the future – since robots will replace many human jobs and workers.
In fact, for decades to come, nearly every task in society will be accomplished and controlled by robots – which is an exciting (and somewhat terrifying) prospect. By giving your child a jump-start in their learning, you’ll be lending them a hand in building a brighter future.
The Best Robot Kit For Kids
There you have it – our top picks for the best robot kit for kids. Whether you want a Lego model, Wall-E, or a simple tin can robot – there is truly something for everybody.
Your little one can quickly learn valuable STEM skills at an early age – just by playing with one of these kits. If they’re very small, you’ll likely have to help them build it – but that’s time very well spent.
If your child is 13 or older, they likely will be able to put the entire robot together – and even program it – without any additional outside assistance needed. They may not even realize they’re learning while building it – which is ideal.
We had just as much fun putting together and playing with these robots as our children did – and we know you will too. If you found this list helpful, be sure to check out some of our other great product reviews.