Wirecutter

Fledgling roboticists can program this sandwich-shaped robot with cardboard tiles, so there’s no screen time required.

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The Boost kit is a joy to put together and the easiest to program, and because it’s based on Lego, the possibilities for creative expansion are almost limitless. Recommended for ages 7 to 12.

The Boost kit is a joy to put together and easy to program, and because it’s based on Lego, there’s lots of possibility for creative expansion.

TechGearLab

If you are looking to get your kids started with robotics, the Lego Boost Creative Toolbox is an exceptional kit. This kit spans a range of project levels, starting slow and simple and gradually building up in complexity. The Boost Creative Toolbox has a block-based graphical coding interface that is intuitive and easy to use, and the kit comes with clear and detailed assembly instructions for each of the five main models. Previous electronics knowledge is not necessary to use this kit. All of these features mean that this kit is very approachable, even for complete beginners, allowing your child to grow in confidence as a young roboticist advancing through more levels. This kit does an excellent job balancing and blending structured play with space for creative expression. There are even plenty of opportunities to expand with additional Lego products once you've exhausted the 60+ activities included in this set. Some of the included activities include building a robot sheriff with a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher and creating an automated factory that makes miniature Lego creations. Troubleshooting is easy with this kit. Overall, we recommend the Lego Boost Creative Toolbox above pretty much any other option on the market today for kids getting started with robotics.
While we love this kit for beginners, the design and structured activities of the Boost Creative Toolbox are geared towards younger kids and thus may be less appealing to older middle schoolers. Over time you may find your child outgrowing the hardware on the Boost as there are fewer options for expanding with additional actuators or motors than non-Lego-based kits. Still, this remains one of our favorite robot kits for kids, as it provides tons of fun and an exceptional introduction to mechanical and software design without being overly complex.

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If Lego-based robotics aren't your thing, have a look at the Makeblock mBot as an introductory robotics kit. This kit gives you direct exposure to commonplace components in industrial robots and is still user-friendly in a way that's approachable for a total novice. The step-by-step 3D instructions are easy to follow, with the app providing gamified lessons once you have the mBot built. It also comes pre-programmed with three different operating modes, allowing you to hit the ground running the moment you finish building it. 
However, the mBot is a little less user-friendly and requires more dexterity to assemble than Legos or other snap-together plastic parts because it uses standard metric machine screws. Some of the more intricate aspects of the assembly will likely necessitate the assistance of an adult. We wish this set included a pair of needle-nose pliers. Although you can cover quite a lot of ground with just its stock configuration, it's a bit more challenging to customize your mBot without purchasing additional components. We think the mBot is a great choice if your kids are already doing Lego robotics at school and want a change of pace, or if you're seeking a kit that can supply a much broader base of understanding in mechatronics &mdash; provided you don't mind a slightly steeper learning curve and purchasing some add-on components. 

If you're looking for an inexpensive and approachable way to introduce the concept of hands-on robotics to your kids, the 4M Tin Can Robot is a great place to start. A repurposed soda can is used for the robot's body, which can be a good foundation to introduce concepts related to recycling in addition to some basic mechanical and electrical lessons. It's fairly easy to put together, only takes an hour or two to assemble, and offers kids a chance to express their creativity by decorating the can. 
Unfortunately, once the building stops, so does the use of this robot. There is not much you can do with it once fully put together. The only way to control its motion is by moving it forward in a straight line. Aside from that, the only other interactive aspect is changing the pose of the eyes and arms. All other activities will have to come from your child's playful imagination. This robot kit lets you foster an interest in robotics and test the water with a low-cost option before investing in a more expensive product. However, we have a feeling its appeal will fade out sooner rather than later.

If you're seeking a robot kit for kids that goes well beyond programming Legos, the Makeblock Ultimate 2.0 is the kit for you. This kit has 550+ pieces and has directions for ten different robots, including a robot tank with a gripper arm, a catapult, a walking ant, and even a camera dolly. It comes with a variety of different sensors and can be programmed with both graphical blocks or text-based coding in Python, and is compatible with both Arduino and Raspberry Pi. This kit is versatile enough that you could work for hundreds of hours on projects without duplicating anything. You also have plenty of potential to expand beyond what's included in the kit with compatible add-on components from Makeblock or third-party parts off the shelf.
Beginners may find this kit to be quite complex and intimidating. There are tons of small parts, and it requires a great deal of skill to assemble. The documentation isn't the clearest, so troubleshooting can be challenging compared to other models. It also requires considerable space and time to assemble projects with this, so it's probably not a kit that you want to take out for only an hour or two on a rainy afternoon. However, it's an absolutely fantastic option for kids who already have a more advanced level of understanding of electromechanical systems or if you are willing to invest hours in assisting and guiding them. True beginners are better off starting with a simpler kit. This kit can familiarize you with some of the same components used in college-level robotics classes as you progress from working with kits to simply building your own robots, and can give you a good starting point for years to come.

This kit implements the Scratch programming language better than any others we tested and produces an exceptionally cute robot, but it’s compatible only with other Jimu kits. Recommended for ages 8 to 12.

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