There are devices that are not only fun, they are also very educational and thanks to them the little ones can get started on topics such as programming. And that, today, is something important in the face of those skills that will allow them to develop and improve. Therefore, we are going to see the ideal technological and educational devices for the little ones .
Empowering STEM education
If you are a teacher, we are convinced that the term STEM does not take you by surprise. And if you are a parent, we also do not believe that you have not heard it on some occasion or other if your child is already a certain age. Because at present, everything related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (hence the acronym of STEM, from its corresponding terms in English: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) enjoys a great role within the classrooms.
That is why it is less and less surprising that many manufacturers launch products that not only allow you to spend very fun times but also learn how things work, what allows them to carry out a series of actions and how these are programmed to automate all kinds of behaviors. Competences that in the future will help them to be able to get on track with greater fluency in all kinds of technical careers. And if not, they will have knowledge that will always be useful when solving logical problems, even enhancing their own critical thinking.
So, if you want to know some of these devices, keep reading. Because below you may find the ideal gift for his next birthday or another moment in which to believe that he deserves some kind of prize.
Lego Mindstorms
Lego launched a few years ago a device that has given a lot of play and not only to the little ones, but also to those who are already a certain age. Lego Mindstorms is the name of this kit that is already in version three.
Combined with the rest of the manufacturer’s parts, with this kit consisting of a center unit plus the combined use of different servos, you can build practically anything you can imagine. And that is its main attraction along with the use of highly visual, block-based programming languages that give the little ones the opportunity to order what to do.
Recommended for children from 10 years old, it is undoubtedly one of the STEM-oriented products that can give more play. So despite having a high price, it is well worth it in the long run.
Lego Boost
Similar to the previous one, although a little easier so that children of about seven years old can already jump into using it, Lego Boost is a robot that, together with its friendly appearance and those tank-type wheels that allow it to move, has the ability to be easily programmed just by installing an application available for both iOS and Android devices.
In this way, together with the Vernie robot and the other four additional models that can be built, the little ones learn robotics and programming. Two themes that allow them to have a great time playing with each and every one of their possibilities while acquiring important skills.
Parrot Mambo Fly
Parrot failed to stand out with its drones with a much more creative profile because DJI did not allow it, but it did find an important niche within the education sector. With the Parrot Mambo Fly they have gotten into numerous schools and it is no wonder.
For starters, the Parrot Mambo Fly is a lot of fun to fly and a mobile phone or tablet is enough to control it through the use of the controls that appear on the touch screen when the application is running. Although the most interesting thing is when it can be used to program a series of actions with which it can be indicated things such as taking off and landing, the height to which it must rise and even the routes that it is capable of taking.
Thus, in many schools they are not only an ideal instrument to teach programming, but also a very creative way to stimulate the imagination of students thanks to the fact that you can create such striking things as choreography with the use of several drones, etc.
DJI Tello
Similar to Parrot’s proposal, the DJI Tello is also a drone that also provides interesting advantages for the educational sector. It is true that the Parrot option with that ball cannon or the arm is more fun for the little ones, but as a flight device and also having its own integrated camera, the DJI solution can give a lot of play.
So it is only a matter of seeing which one interests you the most, of the DJI Tello we must highlight its good behavior in flight . After all, it is a proposal from DJI and that has to be noticed at some point seeing that it is the leading manufacturer of consumer drones.
Sphero
These robotic spheres are another classic in STEM classrooms and it is also completely logical that they are. Some may know them thanks to those toys that based on them (they are from the same manufacturer) arrive with the appearance of BB8 and BB9 from Star Wars.
Well, these spheres offer features such as the use of programmable sensors and LED lights with which the little one can interact and make it interact with other similar devices. In addition, thanks to Sphero Edu they can be programmed to do all kinds of activities. Some of them are very playful, such as bowling and others that are more academic with which you can even prove the Pythagorean theorem. Although if we are honest, one of the funniest is when you put a silicone cover on it and throw it into the water so that it moves across its surface.
Wonder Workshop Dash & Dot Robotics
Wonder Workshop is another of those brands that have managed to gain a foothold in the educational sector with a series of robots that allow children to be taught in a fun way. These offer or have two types of proposals.
On the one hand, there is the Robot Dash which allows children from the age of six to learn what the whole subject of programming is like while experiencing how this robot reacts to the environment that surrounds them thanks to its ability to move.
Robot Dot for its part is like a kind of brain designed to teach programming intuitively to children. Through various games and some other features such as the LEDs that change color, they make everything much more visual and simple.
Osmo
Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit is a set of tools that, through the use of an iPad and an accessory that is placed on top, where the front camera is, allows the little ones to interact with their application.
It is a very interesting toy that allows you to develop certain skills thanks to that type of interaction it offers. It is also true that leaving an iPad to a child between 3 and 5 years old may not be the best idea, for the sake of the device itself, but that is what each one decides.
Raspberry Pi 400
If you talk about education, programming and everything that goes with it, it is undeniable that a product that you cannot miss is the Raspberry Pi. Among the different devices, currently the Raspberry Pi 400 is the most interesting of all. Because in the body of a keyboard the plate is already integrated and you have everything you need to start working. All you need is a screen to connect it to.
For children who are somewhat more advanced in programming issues, it is an ideal device to continue learning and investigating all the possibilities it offers.
What happened to arduino
At this point you may be wondering where the Arduino boards were . Well, like the Raspberry Pi themselves, these are also a classic in computer and technology classrooms, but they are for carrying out somewhat more complex projects that require a more solid foundation. Not only in programming, but also in the use of other components, welding, etc.
So, yes, Arduino and Raspberry Pi give a lot of play also as educational devices, but they are more suitable for older ages. Meanwhile, these proposals are more available to young children and even parents who want to experiment with them and do not have much previous experience.