Dot Creativity Kit Brings Together Coding and Craft – Tech Age …
Wonder Workshop is doing a brilliant job of making robotics and coding fun and accessible for children. We’ve had the pleasure of playing with the new Dot Creativity Kit for children aged 6+.
We’re quite familiar with the Wonder Workshop robots, Dash and Dot, as we’ve owned them for a couple years and written a bit about them about on the blog.
In this post we share my 7-year-old’s exploration of the green Dot robot and all the accessories that come with the Creativity Kit.
Disclaimer: Wonder Workshop sent us a Dot Creativity Kit for the purpose of this review. Our views are always our own.
What’s in the BoxThe Dot Creativity Kit is a compact box that contains a green Dot robot and USB charging cable. Dot needs to be charged and you may need to follow a firmware upgrade when you connect the robot with the accompanying app. (More about the app later. )
The box is also packed with accessories and templates to encourage creative play. There is a useful stand for Dot, building brick connectors (LEGO compatible attachments) and a special connector to attach the cardboard templates to Dot. There’s also a fun silicon cover for the robot with a loop to hang Dot. The cardboard accessories include costumes, an octopus stand and a box which you can use to create a large dice with Dot. The cardboard templates are beautifully designed with appealing colours and characters for children in this age range.
There’s also a sticker set which my son loved. He put a plaster on Dot because the robot fell over!
Don’t discard the box, it makes a perfectly good storage container for Dot and all the bits. We kept the silicone cover in a plastic bag as we found it made oily stains on the cardboard.
The Creativity Kit also includes 20 challenge cards to guide your child through coding activities using the various costumes, connectors, and accessories. The challenges include games, pretend play and opportunity for construction or crafting.
Each activity has a code for the completed code for the challenge, so if your child is initially more interested in the making part of the challenge, they can just download the coding Robot – Dot
Previously Dot was blue like Dash, but we really like this bright green version in the Creativity Kit. Unlike Dash, Dot can’t move, but it’s packed with lots of input sensors and outputs to control. There are 4 buttons that can be programmed separately, an accelorometer which is great for all sorts of activities, programmable LEDs on either side of the head and an eye with 12 programmable LEDs. There’s also a distance sensor and Dot can detect sound.
And my son’s favourite function – you can record your own voice and then use those recordings in your program.
There’s a lot packed into this little robot and it’s full of personality which is very appealing for children (and adults)! The App & Coding
Before you can start the challenges included in the Kit, you need to download the Wonder app which is available for iOS, Andriod and Amazon devices. See a list of compatible devices about our experience using Dot with Amazon Fire tablets.
When we connected the robot to the app, it prompted an upgrade for Dot.
When you first download the app you need to complete 7 challenges (Wonder Workshop) in the Scroll Quest to ‘train’ the robot before you open the free play area of the app. It took about 10 min to complete this. It also provides an introduction to how the programming tool works.
If you’re new to Dot don’t rush through these steps just to get to the Creative Kit programs. The tutorial is really well done and you’ll learn lots of transferable skills which you can use the change the programs in the Kit’s challenges. You’ll be introduced to coding with light, sound, sequencing, loops and thinking about timing in your program.
If you’re not new to Dot and would like to skip this training step you need the secret code.
In the Wonder App:
1)Touch and hold down on Eli’s head (and continue holding through step 4).
2)Tap on Free Play.
3)Tap on Eli’s body.
4)Tap on Free Play. This will activate an option screen which will allow you to unlock Free Play and All Cues.
The Wonder app uses an event-based graphical programming tool, which is different to the typical block-based coding tools like, Scratch. There are several apps in the Wonder Workshop family that work with the different robots and attachments. The Wonder, Go and Block-based coding apps work with Dot. The Wonder app is recommended for the Creativity Kit.
Once you’ve opened the ‘Free Play’ area in the Wonder app, you can click ‘Enter Key’ to get the program on the challenge cards.
It’s not cheating to use the keys to get the programs! I found with my son, it gave him a starting point. He also learned new coding skills by working through the completed code.
If you want to make changes, you need to save the program and then open it again to enable
We love the addition of craft material with Dot.
We’re strong believers that kids should be learning both coding and making skills. The Dot Creativity Kit brings the two worlds together for young children.
There’s plenty of making included in the kit, but hopefully, it would serve as a prompt to make your own templates based on existing ones or come up with your own inventions.
Our heads are buzzing with ideas! (We’ll just have to write another post about Dot. )
We found some of the cardboard characters a bit fiddly to make. My son was frustrated that the characters wouldn’t stay on so we invented a rubber strap with a chain of loom bands. The rubber helped to stick better to Dot, but it did bend the mask a little.
The connector to attach Dot to the cardboard Octopus and Dice Box is very clever and we felt Dot was quite secure.
My son found making the lantern too tricky and was scared to tear the thin paper. Once we made it together Dot switched off and we had to take it apart to switch it back on again. He’s determined to design his own lantern (in another post! )
The building block connectors provide you with another reason to get the big box of LEGO out. And really the possibilities are endless. Can you make Dot move using LEGO? VerdictThe Dot Creativity Kit gets a big thumbs up from my son and Tech Age Kids. We think bringing together coding and making is brilliant and it encourages learning through play.
Dot is a great addition to the modern family’s toy cupboard. It offers an opportunity to add robotics and coding to role play, construction, crafting, and games.
You will get a lot of value from this robotics kit, especially if you can invest in it when your child is young. It is definitely one of our favourite first robots for young kids.
Wonder Workshop Dash and Dot Robot Review – Smarter …
“If you have kids between 5 and 12 and you’re looking for an easy and fun way to get them into robotics and STEM, Dash and/or Dot should be at the top of your list. While a bit pricier than some other kits and with a lot of extras available that can drive up the cost, they are probably the least intimidating robot kits out there for kids, and their adorably pet-like behavior gives them personality that will grab kids attention and keep them learning for a long time.. “
What We Like
Easy to use block programming lets kidslearn the logic of coding without worrying about syntax
Well built, robust robot capable of taking on kid activities with gusto
Lots of sensors and hardware capabilities to work with mean months of fun
Well made, well designed apps to help get kids interested in programming
Cool accessories for both Dash and Dot extend robot usefulness and learning possibilities
Dash and Dot can work on their own or interact with each other
Cute, non-intimidating looks and personality will get kids interested and attached quickly
Large online community of users so lots of projects to look at and be inspired by
What We Don’t Like
Lithium Ion batteries are non-replaceable
Not the cheapest robot kit out there and accessories can increase the cost.
Limited text-based coding support means older kids and advanced coders may get bored of it sooner
SizeDash – about 6. 3 x 6. 7 x 7. 1 inches (16 x 17 x 18. 2 cm)Dot – about 3. 39 x 3. 74 inches Weight1. 7 lb or 800 g PriceDash – $149. 99 Dot Creative Kit – $79. 99Bundle (w/ accessories) – $279. 99Supported Coding LanguagesBlock coding and Apple Swift (iOS only)BatteryLithium IonFeaturesIR receiver, microphone, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity and positional sensorsCompatible withAndroid, iOS, Chromebook, Amazon FireAgeCompany Says: 6+We think: 5-12
In 2014, a small company, Wonder Workshop (then known as Play-i), had a big dream. Seeing that robotics kits were a hit with the middle and high school crowds, they wanted to create a programmable robot appropriate for younger kids that they could not only enjoy but from which they could learn valuable STEM concepts.
To fund their idea, they turned to crowdfunding and raised over $100, 000 in their first day. In the end, through a mix of presales and venture capital they raised enough to build a pair of very capable and adorable programmable robots that they eventually named Dash and Dot.
Ages
Wonder Workshop states that Dash and Dot are appropriate for kids 6 and up.
Both robots are fairly robustly built, they will survive the odd accidental drop or crash just fine. They also have a very approachable interface with big friendly touch screen controls and are based around a block-based programming language that’s super easy to get started with.
With these considerations we feel that the company’s age range is pretty accurate, although we feel that with parental supervision (and depending on the child) kids even younger than that may enjoy and use the robots as well.
Price
You can buy Dash and Dot together or separately.
Generally you can buy Dash alone for around $149. 99.
Dot is now part of the Dot Creativity Kit now and can be purchased alone for $79. 99.
If you want, you can buy the two of them together as with a number of their accessories as part of the Wonder Pack for about $280.
Overall, Dash and Dot aren’t the least expensive robots we’ve tested. In fact, they are up there in terms of price compared to some DIY kits and many of their accessories are sold separately. That said, these robots come very well built, their apps are well designed and highly educational, and they are well supported by the company so you get a lot of bot for your buck.
So, what are Dash and Dot?
Wonder Workshop’s Dash and Dot are a pair of programmable robots that you can buy either separately or as a pair. The idea behind them is to give children 6-12 an educational platform (in the form of a robot) to learn about the world of robotics and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in a playful and easy to understand way.
These robots are designed to be coding platforms as well as entertaining robot friends, in other words out of the box they are blank slates. Sure, you can have some fun controlling them manually, making Dash move or lighting them up and so forth, but overall it’s up to you to program them.
Unlike other robot kits you might find, both Dash and Dot come as pre-assembled robots. While convenient and minimizing any chances of making mistakes in assembly, some kids do like the experience of building their own robot, which does teach some valuable electronics skills like organizing tools and parts, following instruction and reading diagrams.
That said, when you pop these robots out of their boxes you’ll probably think they look like something out of a Pixar movie – they look very child friendly and welcoming. They are both bright and spherical and have a very premium, durable feel to them.
What’s this Dash robot all about?
Dash is the mobile robot of the pair.
Two wheels sit on either side of its body and give it the ability to zip around and spin, which it does easily and smoothly to the great delight of our kids.
Dash’s “head” is fully mobile as well, it can turn up and down and side to side and contains an infrared camera “eye” that has 12 LED lights and can be programmed to delightfully flicker and flash like a display. It also contains speakers that let it chirp and make pre-programmed animal sounds (mooing like a cow, barking like a dog, etc) and that let you record your own voice, which is pretty cool.
Connecting to a device via Bluetooth, Dash can be controlled in two ways. The first, obviously, is by coding instructions into it, which we will touch on in a bit.
You can also manually control Dash like a radio controlled to a range of about 30 feet. If your kids are bored or want to see what the little fella can do, they can do so without entering a single line of code. Our kids had a great time racing Dash around the house and around corners (luckily the company does a good job making Dash pretty durable).
Dash interacts with the environment around it through a variety of inbuilt sensors. These include:
A Gyroscope and accelerometer for moving around and proximity sensors to stop it from smashing into things accidentallySeveral microphones for detecting and moving to noises, which is cool since the robot can turn and come to the speaker giving it an almost pet like personality. Positional sensors for accuracy in movement and balance
While Dash doesn’t have as many sensors as some of the robot kits out there, especially some of the more modular DIY robots, there is enough there for Dash to engage fully with its environment and participate in a wide variety of activities.
In addition to sensors, on the top and sides of Dash’s head are little round connection points. These connection points also serve as connections for a variety of accessories that Wonder Workshop produces for Dash, such as:
Sketch kit – to draw all sorts of things by programming the robotBuilding brick connectors – works with mechano, mindstorms, Lego and hero factory. You can use it to attach things to Dash, integrate it with other toys and educational devicesXylophone that attaches to the robot with a little drumming arm and program it to play musicGripper – for gripping activitiesBlaster– kind of like a nerf cannon you can attach
Unfortunately, these are all paid add ons and sold separately (ranging from $20-50) and, because this robot is a closed system and not something you build yourself, adding on components yourself isn’t really an option and you’re kind of limited to what the company supports or produces in many ways. That means expanding the robot’s hardware can get expensive quickly if you’re not careful.
Dash Apps
To interact with their Dash robot, there are two manual control apps that kids can use:
Go is an app that more or less sets up and controlsDash. It starts with a little story about Dash and Dot leaving robot island, which is cute, but is mostly used to control the robots manually, record voices, bling their lights, control their speed, make sounds and more all through an easy to use touchscreen environment.
Path is an app that helps kids learn to set paths for the robot. It’s easy to use, you basically pull your finger around and draw paths for Dash to drive, which is cool and easy enough for even the youngest kids to use and learn how robots can be programmed to navigate.
In addition to these control apps, Dash has a number of programming apps to choose from (we’ll get more in depth on these later).
Blockly is an app that acts like the main programming environment for both Dash and Dot. In this app, kids can drag and drop commands or create chains of commands to create their own programs that Dash will follow.
Wonder is an app that provides kids with a story based, gamified way of learning to code. Kids progress through story by completing coding challenges and really get to hone their skills in an interesting game-like environment.
Swift (iOS only) is an you can also get started with the fundamentals of typed programming using the Swift playground, assuming you are using a compatible Apple device. Kids can code their robot in Swift with assisted typing or through preprogrammed commands.
So, what’s the Dot robot?
If Dash is an active, mobile robot friend, Dot is more of a companion robot.
Essentially, Dot is a stationary robotic ball that you can pick up and take around with you. In fact it kind of reminds us of an old school webcam, a comparison that was totally lost on our kids when we mentioned it.
Originally Dash’s sidekick, the Dot robot is now sold separately and has been fleshed out with its own accessories, projects and activity kits.
While still programmable, Dot is a more affordable option (at around $80 with the creativity kit) than Dash and we found it can give kids a much more one on one interactive experience since it doesn’t move around and is less likely to distract them.
Our kids, for example, liked turning Dot into a disco ball and got it to squeal in delight when tossed in the air like a ball.
Like Dash, Dot has an infrared “eye” with 12 LED lights that can be programmed as a display. It also responds to sound and can record your voice. Interestingly, it has a couple buttons located on the top of its head that, when pressed, will cause Dot to “talk” to you and even start singing Do-Re-Mi.
Dot, like Dash, has a number of sensors that let it interact with its environment.
It has an accelerometer to help figure out its position and respond when it’s moved, thrown up and down (our kids loved that), shaken, dropped or has a recorder for recording soundsIt has a microphone for locating and responding to noises, including voicesIt has built in IR sensors that let it detect and interact with Dash
Just like it’s more mobile sibling, Dot has connection points on its side and the top of its head to which you can attach a variety of accessories that will really bring Dot to life. Being a stationary robot buddy, obviously these are a little different than Dash.
Dot’s Creativity pack includes a variety of project cards that give you ideas for games you can play with it, such as robotic hot potato, turning Dot into a magic 8 ball, turning Dot into a set of dice for games, and even turning Dot into a remote trigger for Dash. It also contains a variety of costumes you can put on Dot, including a fun Kush Ball type case, stickers and a lamp for creating movement-activated light shows.
All in all, there’s a surprising amount of things you can do with this softball-sized orb and it makes a really great introduction to robotics if you don’t want or can’t afford the more expensive Dash.
Unfortunately, like Dash, its accessories are also sold separately and can raise the price of the robot if you’re not careful.
Dot Apps
Like Dash, Dot has apps to help kids interact with it. With the exception of Path (obviously) Dot has access to and can be controlled by most of the same apps. These are:
Go – to help control and modify Dot’s settingsWonder – gives kids access to a gamified, challenge-based coding experienceBlockly – a free style programming environment for custom codingSwift (iOS only) – access to introductory text-based coding through Apple’s Swift Playground
Dot and Dash: BFFs
One thing that we found interesting is that Dash and Dot are designed to interact with each other.
While you can buy these robots separately, and need to set them up independently, if you get both of them (either as a pair or one after the other), they can detect and “recognize” each other when they come across each other through their IR receivers. They can be programmed to chirp, beep, flash or talk to each other and you can even set up Dot so that it sends information to Dash when they come across each other.
Pretty cool.
Control and handling
You can control Dot and Dash through through a wide variety of compatible devices, including Android, Amazon Fire and iOS.
Wonder Workshop made these robots tablet and smartphone friendly and, in fact, they seem to be very optimized for touch screens in general. The controls don’t require a lot of very fine motor control and are pretty forgiving in our experience, making the robots a snap to move around and use, especially for younger children.
We did, however, bump into quite a few walls while getting used to the manual control.
Dash and Dot connect to devices via Bluetooth, which is nice since its wireless and fast. However, like other bluetooth devices, can occasionally be fiddly and have moments where it doesn’t connect.
Instructions and directions can be found online, which we found to be just fine although it annoyed some customers who were expecting extensive printed instructions to come with the robots in the box.
Coding and Programming Dash and Dot
As we mentioned earlier, out of the box Dash and Dot are pretty much blank slates. It’s up to you to teach them to interact with their environment by programming them.
For the most part, both Dash and Dot are programmed through Blockly, a Scratch-like block programming language developed by Google. If you’re not familiar with block programming, it’s basically a drag and drop visual programming language – you literally drag and drop little blocks of codes and then “chain them” together to make the robots create more complex tasks.
In Blockly, kids can learn important coding ideas like sequencing, loops, sensors and event triggers, functions, variables and more. The overall idea is to teach kids to program and get them learning the logic of programming without frustrating them with precise coding syntax.
When it comes to programming the robots, kids have a couple apps they can use.
The Blockly App
To start with, there’s the Blockly app. In the app, kids are given more or less free reign to code either Dash or Dot in whatever way they want.
Once you sync up the robot to your device, you can literally drag and drop little colorful blocks of code into place and get the robot to do, well, pretty much anything. Kids can program the robot to drive around, change its speed, to look at things, to change colors sequentially or in response to something, to make a variety of sounds, really anything their minds can think up.
And the basics of coding are all there, labeled nicely for kids to pick up on. It was super easy for our kids to set up a fairly complicated routine (make the robot move forward, turn 90 degrees, flash blue and bark when the top button is pressed 3x) for the robot by dragging blocks of the following commands one after the other.
When top button (pressed)Repeat [3 times]Forward [10] [Slow]Repeat [3 times]Turn left [90 degrees]Light: [All colors – Blue]Sound: [Dog]
The Blockly app is really a sandbox for kids. It’s free play at its best, letting kids explore and grow their skills with very few constraints. With the variety of sensors and accessories that are built into Dash and Dot, there’s a lot of possibilities and it’s not likely your kids will run out of things to try anytime soon.
Wonder
Now, some kids learn best by free exploration and some kids learn best with a little more structure and interaction.
That’s where the Wonder app comes in.
Wonder provides a game-like environment for kids to get into programming their new robot friends. The app provides a number of different environments, linked together by a general story, that give kids various coding challenges to complete and achievements to unlock. For example, they may have to program dash to escape a charging bull or escape a volcano zone.
The idea is to teach kids the basics of programming by gamifying learning, keeping kids interest by turning programming into fun games and challenges. As each challenge is completed, kids gain more “abilities” that are saved in an inventor’s log and they can be used in a Free Play mode.
It’s a pretty extensive app, too. With over 50 challenges to try, it’s not something your kids will blow past on a rainy weekend. And when they’re done, kids can upload upload and share their projects, download other projects from the cloud and even explore various Dash and Dot online communities, online workshops and hone their skills and compete in Wonder competitions.
We found that Wonder was really good at getting our kids (particularly the younger one) really interested in the programming aspect of robotics. It was very effective in breaking complex programs into more approachable chunks that they were able to tackle, step by step, in a visual, story rich environment.
Swift (iOS devices only)
Recently, Wonder Workshop released a Swift app for their Dash and Dot robots. If you aren’t familiar with Swift and Swift Playgrounds, basically it’s a coding language developed by Apple for iOS devices that can interact with select smart toys and hardware with the purpose of getting kids introduced to “real” coding.
In effect, Swift is a bridge between the easy block coding of Blockly and “real” programming languages like JavaScript and Apple’s Xcode.
Kids learn more advanced programming logic (imperative logic, loops etc) and create code by either selecting written code on the bottom of the screen or typing in their commands. Kids can use this to program Dash in a variety of ways, moving it around, interacting with other compatible smart robots and accessing several in-built programming challenges.
While Swift is a good introduction to typed coding, due to it being an Apple product it is only available if you have a compatible iOS device (typically iOS 10+).
Limitations of Dash and Dot coding
For the most part, Dash and Dot’s programming is through block code. While it is really well made and approachable for kids, unlike some Arduino programmable robot kits out there there is no option for more advanced coding in popular text-based languages, like JavaScript or C/C++.
If you have a recent iOS device you may be able to use the Swift Playground to get your kids started with more advanced text-based coding. However, while much easier to use, it is a more basic introduction and more limited than, say, an open ended robot kit running Arduino C.
Therefore, while Dash and Dot are great for younger (5-12) kids, especially if they’re just getting into programming, if they are already fairly experienced in coding or really want to get into written coding, they’ll probably need a more advanced solution pretty quickly.
The company does produce another robot, Cue, that is for older kids and designed to transition them into JavaScript. Despite appearances, however, it is a completely separate robot kit and is sold separately.
Batteries
Electronic gadgets are notorious for running through batteries like, well, how kids go through toys. Luckily Dash and Dot both have in-built Lithium-Ion batteries. These batteries are long lasting – we found them to last for about 5 hours or so- and rechargeable (takes about 90 minutes or so), so unlike many other robot kits you won’t be running out to buy AA batteries regularly.
On the downside, Dash and Dot’s batteries are inbuilt and not replaceable. Lithium Ion batteries have a tendency to eventually stop holding a charge and because the robots are not designed to be opened up and fiddled with that means you’ll need to replace the whole unit after a few years.
How durable are these little guys?
Both Dash and Dot come prebuilt in a sealed, robust plastic shell. We (our kids) handled the robots pretty roughly and they continued to function well. You can drop them from a small height, crash them into walls and generally let your kids be kids (within reason of course- no robot baseball) and they should last for a while.
The company does stand behind their robot quality, too, with a 1 year limited warranty.
Will my kids learn anything?
Now for the $64 000 question: how educational are the Dash and Dot robots.
Off the bat, you should know that because these robots are pre-built, your kids won’t get the educational experience of building them.
That said, we found these robots to be an extremely approachable way of learning the basics of programming for kids. Through Blockly they will ultimately learn a lot of the sequential thinking and logic of programming even if they’re not learning the precise syntax of a coding language, like Python or Java. There are also tons of gamified challenges online that teach your kids to do some pretty advanced things with their robots.
If you decide to buy the accessories, you get access to more things you can do with Dash and Dot that will entertain your kids and teach them even more concepts in coding, physics and engineering. That said, these accessories do come at a price and that price can add up if your kids get into it.
Finally, Dash and Dot’s engaging and open-ended nature will encourage kids to try things out on them and, unlike other robots with text-based programming, there’s not much that can go wrong. These robots are not going to lock up, crash or explode or anything and they are build sturdy enough to take a reasonable amount of kid-handling, meaning they’ll probably live through most of the things your kids will want to do.
Conclusion
If you have kids between 5 and 12 and you’re looking for an easy and fun way to get them into robotics and STEM, Dash and/or Dot should be at the top of your list. While a bit pricier than some other kits and with a lot of extras available that can drive up the cost, they are probably the least intimidating robot kits out there for kids, and their adorably pet-like behavior gives them personality that will grab kids attention and keep them learning for a long time.
FAQ
What can dash and dot do? Wonder Workshop’s Dash and Dot robots are programmable robot kits that you can code to perform a wide range of tasks, the limit is really your imagination. In general, they are designed to interact with their environment through a variety of built in sensors based on the commands you program them with. Dash the robot is a highly mobile robot that zips around and Dot is a highly interactive stationary robot that you can take with you and the two can be programmed to detect and interact with each other through their infrared “eyes”.
how much is dash the robot? Dash the robot costs $149. 99 if you buy it alone. You can buy it with its companion robot
how to update dash robot? Sometimes you’ll need to update Dash (or Dot’s) firmware to fix some issues. If this happens, try the following: 1. Press and hold down all three of Dash’s orange buttons and the power button, until the lights turn red, then let go. The lights will blink red slowly and then turn off. 2. Open a Dash app (Wonder, Go, Blockly, etc), search for your robot to connect to and find “DFU DASH” for the firmware update. 3. Tap the Dash picture to connect to it and follow the firmware update prompts. 4. Once it finishes your robot should be connected, on and be ready to play with.
About the Author
David Belenky is a freelance writer, former science and math tutor and a tech enthusiast. When he’s not writing about educational tech, he likes to chill out with his family and dog at home.
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Dot Creativity Kit Review: Coding toy steeped in make believe
Wonder Workshop is the DJI of coding toys — if you want a robot that will teach your child the basics of programming, they’re likely to have an option that fits. We’ve written about its higher-end robot, Cue. We also spent some time with Dot, aimed at children as young as 6-years-old and the newest of the ‘s playThink of Dot like Cue’s younger sibling. Dot is smaller, speaks in a child’s voice, and when you turn her on for the first time she says, “Woah where am I? ” She’s clearly not old enough yet to know what snarky teenager behavior sounds like, and for that we’re relieved. The device even feels like a young child, with a slow laconic blink of its one eye — there’s a Mike from Monsters Inc. feeling here. We bonded had to update Dot after getting her out of the box. This meant downloading the app, and then plugging her in while the app got a refresh. They said this could take 15 minutes, we were done in about get to personalize Dot when you launch her which means picking a name and the main lighting colors that will shine from her sides. We picked a pretty robin’s egg blue and named her Dottie: don’t uses Blockly coding language to teach kids the basics of arBrainLet’s CodeWhat’s great about Dot is the way she teaches you the simplest of block coding with immediate payoffs. Right off the bat you get to make Dot say ‘Hi. ” The app is the star of the show here, even if Dot is rather cute. There’s a Controller Space, Wonder Cloud, Scroll Quest, Inventor’s Log and Free Play where you can test simple coding skills. But before you can head over to Free Play, where you can design your own programs, you have to unlock some areas of Scroll Quest — seven to be exact. This involved doing some mini versions of block coding, using Blockly to basically dragging and dropping actions and linking them together. And when you do it correctly Dot tells you, “Right on the button! ” Some of the programs involve making sounds near Dot: with a microphone embedded, she can hear if you’re clapping or even blowing on her (hearing the sound you make as you do. ) You can also record your own some more options? Dot comes with project cards — you enter a key into the Free Play and can direct her to do as you wish. One project card suggests you take Dot, record yourself saying ‘Boo! ‘ and then hang her from a door. When the door opens, Dot starts yelling ‘Boo! ‘ The mind reels when thinking of all the things kids could record, then program Dot to do to terrorize younger main concern is Dot’s heavy dependency on the app —programming her needs to happen through a mobile device. And that’s something to consider for parents — and teachers — who may want a toy that can exist on its said, as a device that can teach kids about coding, we think Dot hits quite a number of points right — the little kid voice feels comforting and playful, and the programming hints are clear and friendly: a child is going to be able to figure this out. The real standout are the project cards: just simple enough to follow and just silly enough (like a program that makes flatulence noises in your friend’s sleeping bag) to have kids clamor to try. Some of these project ideas came right from kids during testing, says Wonder Workshop. Let’s moveFor a toy aimed at youngsters, Dot doesn’t scrimp on tech: there are four programmable buttons, a microphone as we mentioned above, 12 lights which can also be programmed and a sensor that knows if you’re moving is not going to tear across the floor like Cue — but that’s fine. Wonder calls Dot a Creativity Kit, and we think that’s apt. Coding a robot to roll and move is fun, but it’s not necessary for teaching programming skills. Lights, sounds and colorful flashes, all controlled by a child, can be just as engaging. The key is teaching kids how to empower their own play: Dot succeeds Dot Creativity Kit comes with stickers, paper costumes, projects along with lessons in arBrainLet’s dress-upWith Dot aimed at kids 6-years-old and up, dress up options are crucial. Dot comes with lots of add-ons to customize and make her your own: there are ten costumes including an octopus, a bat and a pirate. Plus there are more than 100 stickers, which are reusable. You can construct a lamp for Dot to sit in as well. And quite honestly, we were personally fond of the rubber pieces lend a physical way for a child to engage with Dot. We think that’s important. Because sometimes devices run short on batteries, and sometimes parents don’t want their child playing with a smartphone or nally, Dot’s price tag is a plus too. At $79. 99 it’s a toy you can take a chance on for your child. The app is free, there’s nothing extra to buy, and we suspect that even when the stickers run out, and the wig is lost under the bed, and the app has been played a number of times and forgotten, Dot could still be a toy a child leaves by her bedside table, a little light she could return to Price, coding interface is simple for even youngest kids to follow, hundreds of add-ons including stickers, a rubber wig and paper Heavily dependent on its app and a lot of parts to keep track of in the kit.