Kids can build the STEMosaur robot then code with it

Parents are going to be spoiled for choice this Christmas when it comes to gadgets that teach children programming skills: from computers to coding robots. STEMosaur falls into the latter category: a toy robot that kids get to build before they play with it.

It’s the work of a company from the US called CogniToys, which has some past form when it comes to tech-toy dinosaurs. STEMosaur is its brand new model, due to ship before Christmas to parents who pre-order it on crowdfunding website Indiegogo – where it has already more-than doubled its $25,000 target.

The company describes it as “a family-friendly smart toy that engages kids with science, technology, engineering, mathematics and coding-basics in a new and fun way”. Once built, the dinosaur will talk, tell jokes and play games with children. It can even help them to meditate.

STEMosaur is aimed at children aged seven and up if they’re using it on its own, although CogniToys reckons younger kids will also have fun with it if they have a parent’s help. The device can connect to your home Wi-Fi network to get software updates, which could mean new features as time goes on.

“On average, kids ask more than 300 questions per day. STEMosaur helps to satisfy this endless curiosity by engaging users in intuitive conversation, as well as reinforcing conversational confidence. This interactive smart toy can answer all kinds of questions on subjects like math, science, geography and astronomy so kids can learn while they play.”

Meanwhile, the coding aspect will see children able to program STEMosaur’s conversations using on-screen blocks that snap together jigsaw-style. There’s also a website for parents to see what their children are asking the dinosaur, as well as set bedtime rules for STEMosaur to fall silent.

(Or maybe just to lurk in the corner of the bedroom saying ‘HAVE you CLEANED your TEETH?’ because to be honest that’s 60% of the conversations I have with my children in the evening…)

Anyway STEMosaur has promise. The first 200 buyers can get one for $119 including shipping costs – at the time of writing only 93 have so there’s time to get in at that price — before the price moves up to $129. Check the Indiegogo pre-order page here.