11 Best Coding Toys For Kids in 2018

Meet Cozmo, he’s not just a toy, but a lifetime friend. Honestly, this little dude is an astounding addition to the coding toys available and his hefty price is definitely worth his value. This miniature robot is a supercomputer and with the help of artificial intelligence, he can express hundreds of emotions. The more you hang out with him, the more he evolves – he’ll soon know your name, face and even your quirks!

Equipped with code lab, Cozmo is an ideal platform for young coders in the making to unlock their imaginations and become familiar with the field of technology. Your new buddy would need a compatible iOS or Android device to function and you’ll also be required to download the free Cozmo app to bring him to life. Be sure to also check out our list of the top Lego Robots for more great items like this.

This way-out-there gadget takes kids coding games to an advanced technical level and works on a super cool concept that connects the real world with digital realms. Osmo is a technology system that takes gameplay beyond the screen, making it an ideal toy for parents who want their kids to invest time in technology while also paying attention to their immediate physical environments.

This award-winning kit includes a stand, game playing pieces as well as nifty storage containers. Add your iPad to the mix and let your kids go crazy while they play some of the best coding games on the market – geniuses can have fun too!

STEM toys are currently trending as parents’ preferred playthings for their kids since they ideally combine education with free-play and imagination. And in walks Bit. Bit is a coding robot that is a master at building early STEM skills and while he is small enough to fit in your pocket, he’s more than ready to read your commands – simply add the program OzoBlockly to your computer or mobile device, then load your code to Bit by holding the bot to your screen.

This award-winning toy is not only a portable-sized buddy, he has an awesome way of bringing coding to life while appealing to the enthusiasm of kids. Our handy guide to the top Lego Technic sets features more great toys like this. 

Say hi to Botley, another robot friend! If you’re looking to reduce your kid’s screen time while encouraging them to build coding skills, then Botley’s your man! This little critter is ready for action from the moment he is unpacked, no mobile devices or apps are required for this coding robot.

Children as young as 5 can learn to code with this sweet looking little fellow by interacting with coding cards and setting up obstacles, and way more!

This is one of the best coding toys that meets the capabilities of younger preschool aged kids. The wriggly “Code-a-Pillar” has been developed for children ages three and up and is often mentioned in coding toys reviews as a child’s first introduction to the world of code and development.

This happy electronic caterpillar breaks into nine segments. These segments can then be arranged into varying sequences which will encourage the toy to move left, right or wriggle on the spot. Love this toy? Check out our review of the top nerf guns for our picks. 

This is another one of those kids coding toys that just blows your mind with what it is capable of. The Piper Computer Kit takes things back to basics and teaches young learners an understanding of how things work and why coding does what it does. The wooden hand-crafted computer case serves as down-to-earth storage for the technology it beholds and is an original take on your everyday computer.

Boasting a revolutionary learning system, this device teaches children engineering and programming through a combination of engaging storylines, physical building, and a Raspberry Pi Edition of Minecraft.

SPRK+ is an educational robot whose purpose is to bridge the gap between robotics and technology and collaborative STEAM activities while igniting the imaginations of young children. His main objective is to inspire creativity while building logic and problem-solving skills. This ball of advanced technology is slightly more complex than the previously mentioned coding toys and tends to be suitable for older kids, say ages 10 an up.

Once you have downloaded the Sphero Edu app, you can code SPRK+ across several platforms using JavaScript. Command the spherical robot to do all sorts of “tricks” as it follows programming instructions. Find more great toys like this by checking out our guide to the top magnetic toys.

With a little bit of imagination, a mobile device and the Bloxels gameboard, you too can build your own video games without being an expert coder! The main highlight of this toy is to create and animate play spaces, characters, and objects using the board and tiny coloured tiles. Then, you take a photo of your layout and upload it to your game using the Bloxels app.

This is another one of the best coding toys that connects the real physical world to the digital realm while developing both creativity and logic skills.

Put your visual skills and logic to the test with this challenging gravity powered STEM toy. More suited for kids ages 8 and up, this mind-boggling toy is even appealing to adults who enjoy putting critical thinking and problem-solving skills to task. The objective of the game is to create a maze that will carry a marble from your starting point to your targeted tower. With 60 amateur to expert challenges, this is probably the best coding toy on the market that can provide all-round family fun.

Gravity Maze Marble Run really is a new take on original marble run games and while it might tend to frustrate as you attempt the harder challenges, it really does help improve logical thinking and even creativity! Make sure you also check our laser tag sets review for more great toys like this.

Who moved my cheese? Code and Go Robot Mouse is a sweet little creature who is here to help the little guys learn and practice their programming skills before they’ve even entered a school-going age. How it works: design and construct your maze using the provided interlocking tiles, and then use the coding cards to design a step-by-step path for Colby, the super cool programmable robot mouse!

Colby is well-suited for floor play or table top play and is quite proud of the fact that he can bet set to two speeds, depending on the mood of the game. He also features interactive sounds which would appeal to most pre-schoolers, encouraging the little ones to make good use of their new tiny playmate.

If adventure is your thing then this awesome fantasy-type game should definitely be added to Christmas wish lists. Use your avatar to travel to an exotic world in search of power crystal treasures, all while developing sequential reasoning and discovering more complex coding concepts like loops and conditional branching.

Code Master Programming is another way to reduce your kid’s screen time while still encouraging them to learn and practice coding skills. In this game your will mix fantasy and creativity with logic and strategy, making it the perfect coding toy to entertain while building brain power. Coding fuel for kids is what we like to call it!