When dad works in technology, his kids naturally want to follow in his footsteps. Our daughters are fascinated with tech and love games that teach them to code – just like dad. Since coding continues to reach every profession (even mom had to teach herself basic coding to run this site), we encourage our girls to learn about coding through play. And now you can teach your kids code with Dash Robot from Wonder Workshop.
Our family received a Dash and accessories from Best Buy for this review.
Teach Your Kids Code With Dash Robot
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is the big buzzword in school these days, and the kids love learning STEM skills in school. STEM based toys bring the learning home and help encourage kids to develop core skills in these areas in a natural, play-like way. What’s better than having you kids learn while not even knowing it?
Best Buy carries several products to help stimulate kid’s minds in the STEM areas helping to develop logic and problem solving skills, including Dash from Wonder Workshop. Dash is a robot that helps teach your kids to code by programing Dash to move, dance, light up, make sounds, avoid obstacles and even react to their voice.
Our kids could hardly contain themselves when Dash arrived and let out squeals of excitement as Dad hit the power button, Dash’s eye lit up and he said, “Hello.” After downloading the first app to the iPad, Wonder, the two sat around side by side learning the basics of how to program Dash, and getting to know all of the things he was capable of, including both seeing and hearing them.
Dash is pretty much ready to use right out of the box. But various accessories are available for even more fun with Dash. We had the opportunity to test the Xylophone and the Launcher as well.
Our oldest loves to write her own songs on the piano, so she was very excited to learn that she could write her own songs for Dash and program him to “dance” while he performed her songs.
Of course, the launcher was also a big hit because when isn’t throwing a ball in the house fun?!
My daughters were happy to demonstrate their favorite parts in a video review (below).
Dash Robot STEM Apps
Dash requires the use of a smartphone or tablet to control it. There are currently five free apps to help your kids learn core STEM based skills while playing. (Including Blocky, which my oldest used in school.) The apps are well designed and easily kept them engaged as they went through the steps of each task.
Wonder
Wonder makes robotics as delightful as finger painting. A picture-based coding language built for kids, children create detailed behaviors for Dash, creating the robot pet, pal or sidekick of their dreams.
Path
With Path, kids start with the fundamentals of robotics and coding before they can read. Drawing a route on a tablet or smartphone, children send Dash on journeys around the house with their code.
Xylo
Program Dash to be a musical performer with Xylo. Used with Xylophone accessory, kids can program Dash to play their favorite song or make new tunes of their own.
Blockly
Designed for children aged 6 and above, Blockly introduces advanced concepts of coding through playful projects and puzzles. Exploring variables, events, conditionals and more, Dash becomes a dancer, adventurer, artist and prankster, powered by kid’s code.
Go
Give Dash a new name, spin in a circle, blink a robot eye and more! Exploring the robot’s lights, sounds, sensors and movements, Go is the first step to getting to know all that Dash can do.
Dash is designed for kids 6+, but our 5-year-old loves learning alongside big sis. She also quickly discovered she can “drive” Dash via the app, and has made many trips around the house already. With the hundreds of projects, challenges and puzzles available, we have only scratched the surface of everything Dash is capable of, and I know the kids will continue to enjoy learning everything their new friend can do.
Dash is available from Best Buy.