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Robots have been fascinating kids and kids-at-heart since the dawn of the science fiction age in the 1960s. Generations of kids have grown up dreaming of being lost in space in a galaxy far, far away on a trek to the stars. And today’s toy robots have come so far from the wind-up versions our parents and grandparents played with.
9 Best Robots For Kids That Are Fun And Educational
- Anki Cozmo Robot
- LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox 17101
- Wonder Workshop Dash Coding Robot
- Learning Resources STEM Programmable Robot Mouse
- LEGO Creator Underwater Robot
- Threeking Gesture Control Remote Control Intelligent Robot
- 4M Solar Rover Kit
- Zoomer Dino
- Original BB-8 Sphere Droid Trainer
With such an emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning, robots are having resurgence and are quite an educational toy. They’re a great asset in instilling an interest in coding and technology, and they come in a vast variety of shapes and sizes and prices. Sure, there’s the traditional-looking robots that come with kid-friendly programming instructions and respond to motions and signals. There are also robot recreations of famous movie characters like Star Wars BB-8 and R2D2. Some robots for kids can be made with household items and run on solar-power, while others are super futuristic with the latest Bluetooth and app-adaptable technologies. There are even dozens of dinosaur robots and robotic kits to build your own prehistoric pet! And the hottest Christmas toy Cozmo is one of the first to have a personality powered by artificial intelligence technology.
Before you start worrying that machines are taking over the world, know that experts say robot toys and robotic kits are actually beneficial to kids’ development. “If they interact with these toys in an empathetic way, that’s got to be a good thing,” Anna Koop, director of applied machine learning at the University of Alberta, has said. “Whether it’s an imaginary friend, a live pet or a robot, you’re reinforcing habits Practicing skills of whatever variety improves them.”
We agree. And so we present our top 10 picks for the best robots for kids.
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
1 of 9 Image Credits: Amazon
Anki Cozmo Robot
Cozmo comes fully loaded and ready to roll with big-time fun for the whole family. But his big brain has plenty of room for little programmers to learn about STEM by coding with his kid-friendly language that’s perfect for beginners. Parents consider this super cool STEM toy to be worth every penny because of how its personality and functions improve and adapt the more it’s played with. Cozmo loves to play games and is a great way for kids to improve their memory skills and hand-eye coordination as well as critical thinking. The sky’s the limit when it comes to kids’ creativity with Cozmo.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
This little robot is awesome. The things he can do will surprise you. The commercials and YouTube videos don't do it justice. I also like the STEM educational aspect. It's fun to see everything Cozmo can do. It's also fun letting your kid show everything they can do with it.
2 of 9 Image Credits: Target
LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox 17101
Kids will have so much fun using the LEGOs to build an M.T.R.4 (Multi-Tooled Rover 4) Robot. The kit comes with a whopping 840 Lego pieces and all of the necessary equipment, including two encoded motors, and a color and distance sensor to get their creation up and running. Then they can flex their STEM muscles by using a smart device to code their rover. They’ll spend hours getting the Bluetooth-enabled robot to complete complex maneuvers at their command, since he can detect distance, motion and color and even lights up.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
This little robot is awesome. The things he can do will surprise you. The commercials and YouTube videos don't do it justice. I also like the STEM educational aspect. It's fun to see everything Cozmo can do. It's also fun letting your kid show everything they can do with it.
3 of 9 Image Credits: Amazon
Wonder Workshop Dash Coding Robot
Welcome to the future! Kids are crazy for this voice-activated coding robot that has the capability to navigate around objects. Dash arrives fully charged and ready to roll, which is a blessing on birthdays and special occasions, when the last thing little ones want to do is wait to play with their new toy. Kids can give him voice commands through one of the five free apps included. This is a great toy to introduce the fundamentals of technology to your tots. The only thing that would make Dash better is if he could fetch Mom and Dad their morning coffee.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
What an absolutely amazing toy. The shear number of movements and traits this thing can do are way more than I expected for the price. It is actually a really complex robot. The programming interface though is truly what sets it apart.
4 of 9 Image Credits: Target
Learning Resources STEM Programmable Robot Mouse
Meet Jack. The colorful little chunky computer mouse is here to introduce hands-on coding concepts to kids. Jack has 20 double-sided pictorial coding cards and easy-to-push buttons, and little ones will love spending hours learning how to make him work. He lights up and makes sounds and has two speeds to grow alongside little ones. Parents like the fact that there are expansion packs available to learn even more coding for Jack. This is such a cool robot for the preschool programmer.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
They are so much fun! They are very cute and the kids love them. These mice are easy to use and the students had no trouble operating them.
5 of 9 Image Credits: Walmart
LEGO Creator Underwater Robot
This LEGO creator robot kit gives adventurous builders a chance to create three different awesome items. The Underwater Robot has incredible flexible joints for realistic movement, a red robot eye under a clear viewing helmet and large robot feet for traveling over rugged underwater terrain. Builders can also make a submarine or underwater crane for treasure hunting, but really there’s endless possibilities for play with this colorful robotics kit for kids.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
The set is just cool. Big, beefy, articulate, truly frightening claw hands with a drill in the one palm, and a nearly opposable thumb in the other. Just cool.
6 of 9 Image Credits: Amazon
Threeking Gesture Control Remote Control Intelligent Robot
This playful robot is guaranteed fun and educational for the whole family. While it’s got a classic ‘60s Sci-Fi-flick vibe, this cool robot is totally 21st-century technology. Even the youngest kids can use it, because it understands gesture control and has some funky dance moves to elicit giggles from everyone. With flexible joints and skating wheels, this robotics toy has the ability to glide around obstacles and is designed to be personalized with easy-to-understand coding directions.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
It is very easy to use and very well build!! I even let my 3 year old play with it and he is in awe!!! And because it speaks I find it very educational too!! It is easy to recharge by included USB cable. The way it dances makes us all laugh so much!! Michael Jackson has nothing on my robot!!! Really awesome toy!! Love it!
7 of 9 Image Credits: Amazon
4M Solar Rover Kit
All you need is an empty soda can to create this cool solar-powered robot. The kit comes with everything necessary, including a plastic body option to use instead of the can, to build a rover that utilizes the sun for power. This STEM educational toy is the ultimate environmentally friendly robot, but parents do lament that the only downside is that it’s not the best for a rainy day project. So make sure that this soda can robot is constructed and ready to roll on a sunny day, then let its solar cell soak up the rays for a while to charge the motor for hours of entertainment. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
Easy to follow instructions, 20 minutes to build, and worked immediately on a not-so-sunny day. Kids were impressed and are now more into solar tech (the intended outcome!). The kit comes with a plastic 'body' as well if you're not interested in using an aluminum can. I didn't know that when I ordered, it was a nice add-in I thought.
8 of 9 Image Credits: Amazon
Zoomer Dino
Zoomer uses something called True Balance technology to race around and explore everything on two super sleek wheels. Kids delight in chasing after this dynamic dino that roars and chomps at everything in its path. But don’t worry, if you pet his nose, he’s as gentle as a puppy dog. Preschool paleontologists and eventual engineers can teach Zoomer tricks and interact with his different moods (his eyes change color depending on whether he’s happy or sad), and realistic dinosaur sounds and moves.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
He's very entertaining and my son loves when Dino gets mad, he thinks he can make him happy again. I can't speak on the ‘training’ parts yet, as I honestly haven't even read the instructions because my kids love him the way he is with just the remote and moving on his own. He does seem to react when you pet his head, which my kids love.
9 of 9 Image Credits: Amazon
Original BB-8 Sphero Droid Trainer
One of the hottest new Star Wars droids is a super cool robot for the bigger kids. This app-enabled BB-8 is made of high-quality plastic and has the exact same movements and personality as the droid in the film. The more BB-8 interacts with people, the more he will display his range of emotions and happily respond to voice commands — but he’s confident and powerful enough to explore all on his own. You can even create and view holographic recordings with this famous robotic companion.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
Fun little robot. I love this guys personality! He likes to patrol your room and check things out. I had to laugh when it ran into a piece of furniture and said it was a hostile being. Excellent wireless charging and confident battery life. It mostly rolls around makes noises here and there and you have a choice to control it.
