Coding toys for kids (screen, connect, phone, program)

[loves2read]

Our grandson will be 6 end of this month
He seems fairly smart--can read by himself on simple chapter books--likes to do puzzles and has started playing chess...
Considering a "coding" toy for his birthday
Am in Sarasota FL area and there are no toy stores around here that carry many items like this
Looked on Amazon
Not sure which one really is best for teaching concepts that are beneficial going forward
Coding seems to be pushed as a "gateway" into using computers and building a skill set for the future
Willing to give it a try and would spend up to $100 for something that would be good value for durability, teaching, and sustained interest...

Any suggestions from personal use???

[Peregrine]

Meh.. I got something like that for my kid. Paid way too much and he was bored of it in a few days.

Definitely start Small:
https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-...oys&th=1&psc=1

[turf3]

I responded elsewhere, but:

I would not.

At this age a child needs to be looking outward, building the foundations of his intellect, building social skills, and his body, not staring at a screen learning how to push the right buttons.

Plenty of time to learn the "trained monkey" activities of coding.

Spend your money on things like balls and bats, books, child-appropriate musical instruments, and so on. Toys should encourage fantasy, story telling, making things up, not pushing buttons.

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by turf3

not staring at a screen learning how to push the right buttons.

Plenty of time to learn the "trained monkey" activities of coding.

Obviously you aren't familiar with this new trend at all because that's EXACTLY what it isn't: staring at a screen.

Did you even check my link? That look like a screen?

Here's another toy you can use learn to get the basics of coding:
https://store.makewonder.com/product...xoCU08QAvD_BwE

I'm sure the boys parents are socializing the child just fine.

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by turf3

I responded elsewhere, but:

I would not.

At this age a child needs to be looking outward, building the foundations of his intellect, building social skills, and his body, not staring at a screen learning how to push the right buttons.

Plenty of time to learn the "trained monkey" activities of coding.

Spend your money on things like balls and bats, books, child-appropriate musical instruments, and so on. Toys should encourage fantasy, story telling, making things up, not pushing buttons.

We do
One reason he is reading above grade level

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Obviously you aren't familiar with this new trend at all because that's EXACTLY what it isn't: staring at a screen.

Did you even check my link? That look like a screen?

Here's another toy you can use learn to get the basics of coding:
https://store.makewonder.com/product...xoCU08QAvD_BwE

I'm sure the boys parents are socializing the child just fine.

I saw that
What makes it better than the less expensive evo coding toy that is just tound?
The fact it can be programmed for more complex activities?

[Peregrine]

Well with the first thing I posted you are learning how modules work together which is a very basic level of coding. With Dash the Robot it's nearly almost actual programming.
Ok I am going to use the phone app to easily connect these 4 things together and this is going to make Dash walk a straight line, spin around, pick up an object, and then walk in a big circle. So you do this on the phone then send the commands to Dash and away he goes. It's simple dragging and dropping but underneath it is the basic idea of coding. This is just an example I have no actual experience with Dash. I bought my kid Chip