2023 Coding Gift Guide for Teens

Anki Cozmo Robot

The Anki Cozmo Robot may remind teens of WALL-E, the beloved Pixar robot. With Cozmo, teens use the Code Lab to program the robot to perform tasks and complete objectives. As teens interact with the robot, it gets smarter, showcasing new personality traits, skills, and games.

Bloxels Build Your Own Video Game

Mattel’s Bloxels integrates the physical and digital worlds with “Build Your Own Video Game.” Teens initially use designs included in the kit to create games and then “digitize” them with the Bloxels Builder app. Once they’re familiar with Bloxels, they can use the game board, color blocks, and app to build and code their own games.

Code Master Programming Logic Game

Code Master is a traditional board game with a computer science twist. Teens and parents who play the game learn programming logic, as well as develop computational and problem-solving skills. With 10 maps and 60 levels, the gameplay changes frequently, which keeps teens motivated to learn and win.

Code: On the Brink

Code: On the Brink places teens in the role of programmers. Their objective: Be the first to guide their robot from the starting point to the finish, all while working within certain fixed requirements. The game tests teens’ understanding of programming concepts. It also unleashes problem-solving skills as teens progress through 40 challenges that range in complexity and difficulty.

Meccano-Erector M.A.X.

M.A.X. combines robotics and a programming platform. Teens can use the platform, plus the robot’s built-in artificial intelligence (AI), to create a one-of-a-kind robot that responds to their prompts. When they tire of the traditional M.A.X., they can reassemble its 332 parts into another robot.

Sphero Bolt Robot

An Amazon’s Choice product, the Sphero Bolt aims to entertain and educate. This app-enabled educational robot features educational games to play or create your own. Sphero Bolt is powered by the free Sphero Edu app and where kids can learn JavaScript, Scratch, and Swift

Wonder Workshop Cue

The Wonder Workshop Cue looks like an alien robot with its glowing lights, tripod base, and head. Teens first get acquainted with the robot through its emotive AI. They then move into adjusting the robot’s behaviors with games and challenges that start with block-based programming and end with JavaScript.

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter PRO Kit

Building a robot is fun, but building a computer that can be used for everyday tasks is fun and useful. This Raspberry Pi Starter Kit brings together all the components needed to build a computer from scratch, including a micro SD card preloaded with the NOOBS OS. Or, you can install another OS like Raspian or Windows 10 as an easy way to experiment with coding.  

This kit is a great choice for anyone interested in learning about how computers work.

ThinkFun Hacker Cybersecurity Coding Game

This coding-oriented board game combines gamification principles with a screen-free experience to teach kids the basic principles of coding and cybersecurity in a fun way. And with 120 different coding challenges in increasing levels of difficulty, it’s sure to meet players right where they are. 

imagiLabs Creative Accessory: imagiCharm!

The imagiCharm accessory by imagiLabs uses 64 color-changing LEDs to make wearable designs and animations. Their proprietary app uses a bluetooth connection and real Python code to get teens coding their very own pixel-art designs. It’s a truly unique and beginner-friendly way to start coding!

DJI RoboMaster S1

This modular robot system from DJI is one seriously cool programming platform. The system is designed to challenge young programmers to develop their skills! But since it can be programmed using either Python or Scratch, it’s accessible for beginners as well.  The car can either be programmed or driven in a first-person view mode, making this one an amazingly fun experience.

ELEGOO UNO R3 Project Smart Robot Car Kit

This ELEGOO Smart Robot Car Kit takes a ground-up approach to building a robot car. The kit comes with all the components needed to make a robot, including the Arduino board and sensors needed to get it going. It isn’t recommended for true beginners, though, as a decent grasp on electronics and programming is needed to get it working.