Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot

Product Information

Actions include moving forward, turning left and right, reversing, avoiding obstacles, manoeuvring around courses and even moving objects with his robot arms. Botley is also able to perform loops, which are an important part of making computer programming efficient. Loops are fun for kids to design. Finally, Botley is able to think on the fly! More complex coders can understand how to program Botley for an “If, then” sequence. If Botley detects an object in his way, what will he do? This is one of the more sophisticated features of the Botley coding robot. Botley Robot Activities Editor's Note (September 2023): This product review was originally written and published in 2020. To make sure we are still recommending the best products for your needs, we recently reviewed this story to make sure it is still accurate and that we stand by what we wrote. Despite newer models and options being available, we still feel confident that this product is one of the best choices, and therefore have included it in The Best STEM Toys for Girls.

No, Botley does not require a computer for programming. It comes with a remote programmer and coding cards for coding sequences. A game suitable for two to four players aged 6 and above, it’s also something that the whole family can enjoy together. So if you’re a house with stricter limitations on screen time, or are already filling your daily screen limits up with other educational apps, this coding robot should fit nicely into your life. How does Botley work? Bot boogie! That’s right, Botley 2.0 loves to party. Watch as it performs a dazzling light show and dances to the beat! This somewhat unique-looking robot is a great coding toy that grows with your child, including a range of fun, hands-on programming options that become increasingly more complex.Children can build a pathway using the maze pieces included, before using the coding cards to create a step-by-step path for Colby to follow. Once the path has been programmed, Colby will race off on his journey to find his cheese, lighting up and making cute sounds as he goes.

Botley 2.0 is the new kids coding toy for even more 100% screen-free coding fun. Perfect for promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills, it’ll have kids coding in minutes. Builds Teamwork and Collaboration: Many coding robots offer multiplayer capabilities, enabling users to collaborate and code together. This fosters teamwork and teaches effective communication.On the move! Using the remote control, you can program up to 150 steps that instruct Botley 2.0 to move in six different directions! Botley has essentially two modes: line following and coding, and kids can switch freely between the two. Botley 2.0 has an OD sensor that detects objects that are in the way. To use these functions users apply the programming concepts IF/Then, which are basic in programming language. Another great addition to get kids familiar with coding and how robots can be programmed to use sensors to interact with objects around them. Another issue for some parents may be that while Botley is cute and the activities are fun, this is not a companion robot, but an educational one, so it doesn’t beep, flash and squeak as much as some more advanced robot kits. Keeping very young kids interested in it may therefore require a bit more parental involvement. Use the coding cards as a visual aid to help your child understand the concepts of sequencing and algorithmic thinking.

The perfect combination of STEM and Harry Potter, this award-winning coding toy is a great option for older children, who will love physically building their very own magic wand before programming it to perform a wide range of fun spells. Botley is a colorful robot and remote control combo that teaches kids beginner code. Children can program theirBotley coding robot by entering a code on the remote and then ask Botley to ‘run the code’. With most younger kids and coding the goal isn’t so much to teach them a coding language per se, rather the idea is to get them started with the logical thinking and step by step nature of coding.mTiny arrives with 36 code cards and a storybook that covers an impressive range of skills, from reading and math to music and logical thinking. The magic happens when these programming/command cards are combined to create sequences, teaching my child essential concepts like control and directional language. It's like building a foundation for future coding adventures, all while having a blast. Botley is a clever way for kids to learn the basics of coding, and it worked like a charm on my youngest daughter. The robot is designed to be programmed through the remote, with large buttons with arrows and other symbols that are easy to identify. My daughter has a limited amount of experience with this type of toy, but she could still figure out the buttons without my help. The Dash robot is fab, they have them at my daughter's school and I've been able to play with them a few times. I'm going to get one for my daughter for her birthday - she will be six but it grows with them as the tasks get more and more complicated.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Jerseysilkvelour)