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Products to Get Kids Interested in Coding

6 Fun Ways to Get Kids Interested in Coding

From hands-on robotics to app building and interactive books, here are six fun products to get kids interested in programming.

1. Measuring in at just more than one inch, the Ozobot Evo is a tiny robot with a big personality. Kids can program Ozobot to follow different commands using color codes drawn on paper, explore basic programming concepts, and learn block-based programming with fun games and activities. $100, age eight and up. 

2. My First Coding Book by Kiki Prottsman introduces little ones to the world of coding, without the use of computers. The board book features puzzles, mazes, and games to help youngsters learn the basics of coding. Kids lift flaps, turn wheels, and pull sliders to understand the concepts of sequences, loops, and debugging to get the desired result. $16, age five and up. 

3. Written by the founder of Girls Who Code—a national nonprofit organization that works to inspire, educate, and equip girls with computer science skills— Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World by Reshma Saujani explains coding principles, shares real-life stories, and shows girls how coding is relevant to their lives, no matter their interests. $18, age 10 and up. 

4. The Friendship Code by Stacia Deutsch is the first book in Penguin Workshop’s new Girls Who Code series. The fictional story follows a group of middle school girls who—although they have differing interests—share a passion for coding. The series shows girls that anyone can code; it’s for anyone who sees a problem and has an idea about how to solve it. $13, ages eight to 12. 

5. SmartGurlz teaches girls how to code with a fun, self-balancing robot and doll. Girls program Siggy (the robot scooter) to dance, do tricks, and more, on a smartphone or tablet. Coding concepts are taught using a drag and drop interface where kids program the robot to complete coding assignments and missions. $80, age six and up. 

6. Boulder-based Bitsbox teaches kids to code by building fun apps that can be used on their computer, smartphone, or tablet. The monthly subscription box includes a different set of projects each month—from simple to advanced, which progress and get more complex as kids learn. $20 per month, ages six to 14. 

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