STEAM learning through play ins’t just for the big kids. Young children are also curious about the world around them including technology. KinderLab Robotics has KIBO, an educational robot, that allows 4- to 7-year-olds to build, program, decorate and bring their own robots to life! Integrating robotics for children in PreK – 2nd grade can introduce STEM concepts to them in a playful way, thereby encouraging them to be excited about further exploration in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math! Young kids learn by doing. With KIBO, children engage in playful learning, cultivate their curiosity for the technological world, explore problem solving, and understand concepts such as sequencing, cause-and-effect, programming, sensors and motors.
Designed for open-ended play, KIBO lets your kids make almost anything. Kids can create a character from a story, a carousel, a dancer, a race helicopter, or anything that they can think of. The child creates a sequence of instructions (a program) using the wooden KIBO blocks. They scan the blocks with the KIBO body to tell the robot what to do. They press the button and the robot comes alive. With KIBO, young children can become programmers, engineers, designers, artists, dancers, choreographers and writers. KIBO is different from any other robotic kit because it appeals to both technically minded kids and those that connect more to arts and culture or physical activity.
KIBO kits are available for home or classroom use with options for extensions including: a Free Throw Extension Set, Marker Extension Sets and Building Brick Extension Sets. KIBO detects light with the Light Sensor (Eye), detects sound with the Sound Sensor (Ear), detects distance with the Distance Sensor (Telescope). Kids can let their creativity shine with modules including Lightblub Module, Expression Module, Sound Record/Playback Module, Motor Module, Stage Art Platform and Turntable Art Platform. There is a wealth or resources available on the KinderLab website including tutorials, activities, curriculum and more!
We first saw KIBO at KIDFest and loved how easy it was for young people to pick it up and start experimenting with coding. The KIBO demo carpet was covered with kids who were very quickly becoming proficient at generating the codes needed to accomplish their goals. We were very excited for the chance to play with KIBO in our home, thanks to KinderLab Robotics. The indistinctive appearance of KIBO helps transform it into anything! My younger kids (ages 2 & 4) were very interested in manipulating the blocks, scanning and watching what the robot did. My almost 6 year old was more interested in planning what the robot would be and how it should behave. It was interesting to see the big difference in foresight and planning. We found the scanning of blocks to be a little glitchy. It was not always easy for the kids to hold the robot just so to scan each block which resulted in missing steps in our code. My kids and their Adventure Buddies had such a great time playing with KIBO they were fighting over what to do with it next.
Breakdown:
- Recommended for kids 4-7 years old
- Huge STEAM value for young children! One of the best products for introducing PreK – 2nd graders to STEAM concepts (Engineering & Programming, Problem Solving, and Integration with Arts & Storytelling)
- KIBO kits are more expensive than many other home robotics (ranging from $199 – $499)
- Open ended play opportunities allow for hours of innovation and creativity
- Manipulatives based, Screen-Free coding
- The resources for using and playing with KIBO are extensive on kinderlabrobotics.com
- Great addition to any classroom!
**UPDATE** The KIBO 10 Kit has been reduced to $199.
KinderLab Robotics
kinderlabrobotics.com
info@kinderlabrobotics.com
(781) 894-4022
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