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Sphero
The coding toy that's fun even before coding. Drive it like remote control, then gradually learn to program.
Scratch blocks to JavaScript
45 minutes
App
8+
| Product | Rating | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphero Mini Robot Ball Best Sphero | 4.6 | $50 | View |
 Coding Starter Kit Osmo | 4.7 | $100 | View |
 Cubetto Coding Robot Primo Toys | 4.5 | $225 | View |
 Computer Kit Complete Kano | 4.3 | $150 | View |
 Robot Turtles Board Game ThinkFun | 4.6 | $25 | View |
* Prices may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Sphero
The coding toy that's fun even before coding. Drive it like remote control, then gradually learn to program.
Scratch blocks to JavaScript
45 minutes
App
8+
Osmo
Coding concepts without screens (mostly). Physical blocks represent commands—snap them together to control characters.
Physical block programming
iPad or Fire tablet
3 included
5-10
Primo Toys
Coding for preschoolers who can't read yet. Physical blocks send commands to a wooden robot.
Physical blocks, no screen
3-6
Wood and plastic
4 hours
Kano
The "real thing" option. Kids physically assemble a working computer, then learn to code on it.
Build-your-own computer
Kano OS (Linux)
Block-based to Python
6+
ThinkFun
Programming as a board game. Kids write code cards; an adult "executes" the program.
Board game
2-5
Sequence, loops, debugging
4+
They teach programming concepts and logic. For actual coding skills, they're a starting point—not the destination.
That's fine initially! Playing with it as a toy builds familiarity. Gradually introduce coding challenges.
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