Learning Resources LER2935 Botley The Coding Robot Activity Set, Multicoloured
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100% Screen-FreeBotley the Coding Robot comes complete with a remote control, making this activity set completely screen-free – no phone or tablet required! This comprehensive kit is the ideal introduction to coding for children aged 5+. | Advanced FeaturesThis perfect introduction to coding and programming includes advanced features so children will continue to enjoy using Botley as they grow and learn. Botley the Coding Robot can be programmed with 80 steps. | Endless Fun!Botley can perform a variety of actions including forwards, backwards, left and right. The object detection feature will introduce smart logic as young learners build their STEM skills with this next generation tool. | Black Line FollowingBotley the Coding Robot features a special sensor underneath for following black lines. Young learners draw a bold black line or use the included cards, flip the switch to black-line follow mode and watch Botley follow it to their chosen destination! Botley the Coding Robot requires 3 AAA batteries (not included). The remote control requires 2 AAA (not included). |
What’s in the box?
This 77-piece comprehensive kit includes Botley the Coding Robot, remote control, detachable robot arms, 40 coding cards, six double-sided cards, 27 building pieces and an activity guide full of challenges!
Stem Learning
We offer a wide range of STEM Learning resources that help build children’s skills in science, technology, engineering and maths! Through play, learners build skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication and investigation.
| Dimensions: | 22.86 x 22.86 x 15.75 cm; 1 Kilograms |
| Model: | LER2935 |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Colour: | Multicoloured |
| Pack Quantity: | 77 |
| Batteries Required: | Yes |
| Batteries Included: | No |
| Age: | 5 – 9 years |
| Assembly: | Yes |
| Colour: | Multicoloured |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Quantity: | 77 |
Cannot recommend this item enough
Bought for my godson who is age 5 for Christmas, I thought it might be something he would use more as he got older but I have been surprised, he started playing with it straight away and it has been very useful during lockdown for learning to code
Cannot recommend this item enough
Bought for my godson who is age 5 for Christmas, I thought it might be something he would use more as he got older but I have been surprised, he started playing with it straight away and it has been very useful during lockdown for learning to code
Christmas surprise
Bought for 5 year old grandson who quickly figured out how to use it. The function which allows the vehicle to follow a curved line was a great success, the jigsaw layout was simple to use.
Christmas day was good to him
From the moment we got this, Botley has been a huge hit with the age attraction spanning from three year old and upwards, all the way upto adults in our home.
The instructions are clearly laid out with the challenges ranging from the very basic, suitable for a three year old. To very challenging! – even the adults here, found the exact coding required to perform a task, pretty challenging!
A Complaint:
I read someone comment that their Botley didn’t rotate a full 90 (turning about 80 instead), when commanded to ‘turn right’. I can only imagine they had a faulty bot, as it does turn a complete right angle when requested. Allowing you to code without having to worry about improper turns.
The Remote:
Don’t be fooled by the simplistic, colourful and chunky designed remote. It’s an attractive format to get the young interested into early coding, but this robot offers so much more whilst keeping the experience ‘fun’ and positive for the younger audience, all the while, learning essential STEAM skills which this bot will grow on as the experience of the individual grows with time.
The Extras:
It comes with a large selection of apparatus, to push, roll, carry, swerve, avoid, navigate, follow and adhere to.
It also has some hidden ‘Easter egg’ codes to make your bot perform some funny little tricks.
Our youngest (age 4) treats him more like a pet, she commands him to come to him (obviously using coding), rewards the bot with a treat (from the bot’s own “toys”; she blesses him when he sneezes (which he does when he’s inactive for a few minutes), she chuckles with delight when the bot is coded by her to spin round and round (a coded series of left and right turns) as he feels ‘dizzy’ and responds with “woah, woah, woooah” sounds.
A thought provoking and challenging kit that the whole family can participate in as after dinner entertainment that, with the aid of the instuctions, can direct you on a selection of age-specific levels of tasks, in order to find the ultimate coder.
** Note: Carry case purchased separately on Amazon.
* 5 x AAA required.
* Remote doesn’t have an ‘off’ switch, which is rather annoying as it keeps transmitting a signal with lights and sounds when accidentally pressed in storage.
From the moment we got this, Botley has been a huge hit with the age attraction spanning from three year old and upwards, all the way upto adults in our home.
The instructions are clearly laid out with the challenges ranging from the very basic, suitable for a three year old. To very challenging! – even the adults here, found the exact coding required to perform a task, pretty challenging!
A Complaint:
I read someone comment that their Botley didn’t rotate a full 90 (turning about 80 instead), when commanded to ‘turn right’. I can only imagine they had a faulty bot, as it does turn a complete right angle when requested. Allowing you to code without having to worry about improper turns.
The Remote:
Don’t be fooled by the simplistic, colourful and chunky designed remote. It’s an attractive format to get the young interested into early coding, but this robot offers so much more whilst keeping the experience ‘fun’ and positive for the younger audience, all the while, learning essential STEAM skills which this bot will grow on as the experience of the individual grows with time.
The Extras:
It comes with a large selection of apparatus, to push, roll, carry, swerve, avoid, navigate, follow and adhere to.
It also has some hidden ‘Easter egg’ codes to make your bot perform some funny little tricks.
Our youngest (age 4) treats him more like a pet, she commands him to come to him (obviously using coding), rewards the bot with a treat (from the bot’s own “toys”; she blesses him when he sneezes (which he does when he’s inactive for a few minutes), she chuckles with delight when the bot is coded by her to spin round and round (a coded series of left and right turns) as he feels ‘dizzy’ and responds with “woah, woah, woooah” sounds.
A thought provoking and challenging kit that the whole family can participate in as after dinner entertainment that, with the aid of the instuctions, can direct you on a selection of age-specific levels of tasks, in order to find the ultimate coder.
** Note: Carry case purchased separately on Amazon.
* 5 x AAA required.
* Remote doesn’t have an ‘off’ switch, which is rather annoying as it keeps transmitting a signal with lights and sounds when accidentally pressed in storage.
Excellent introduction to coding!
Fantastic for getting my 8 year old more enthused about coding. Lots of variety in the projects provided with Botley, and huge scope for making up your own problems to solve! Excellent for collaborative play / problem solving too.
Excellent introduction to coding!
Fantastic for getting my 8 year old more enthused about coding. Lots of variety in the projects provided with Botley, and huge scope for making up your own problems to solve! Excellent for collaborative play / problem solving too.
Programmable robo
Bought for 5 year old grandson, he soon got the hang of it and now makes it do what he wants it to do. Makes children think and work out the program they want.
Great learning tool and game
My daughter absolutely adores Botley. All of the commands are easy to input and she can create commands for him. Although it says 5+, my 2 year old has figured out the basic controls and the adults help her learn the more complicated commands.
Great learning tool and game
My daughter absolutely adores Botley. All of the commands are easy to input and she can create commands for him. Although it says 5+, my 2 year old has figured out the basic controls and the adults help her learn the more complicated commands.
Great prese
This is a great present for a child. We bought for our 5 year old for Christmas and he has used it just about every day since. The no screen aspect is great and it is easy to use.
Great prese
This is a great present for a child. We bought for our 5 year old for Christmas and he has used it just about every day since. The no screen aspect is great and it is easy to use.
Interesting toy
My little one enjoy playing this. However it is better to add a switch auto delete old command.
Fun coding toy!
Good when you want to start coding (with kids). Easy use and fun.
A huge hit for my 7&8 year olds
I bought this for my daughter’s 7th birthday and it’s been a huge hit with both her and her 8.5 year old sister. Simple and fun, but with the ability to work out more complicated programmes.
I bought it when it was on sale on Amazon, which made it even better!
A huge hit for my 7&8 year olds
I bought this for my daughter’s 7th birthday and it’s been a huge hit with both her and her 8.5 year old sister. Simple and fun, but with the ability to work out more complicated programmes.
I bought it when it was on sale on Amazon, which made it even better!
Very good
It is wonderful to be able to buy a gadget that can teach coding without the need for screens.
The bot offers hours of fun, from simple coding to more complex ideas (avoiding objects, repeat codes).
8 year old has enjoyed using this immensely, and it doesn’t feel like he’s wasting time!
Fantastic new Friend for our 6yr old grandchildren who play with “Notley” most days since their birthday in June. Very educational into the robot world. Great fun. I highly recommend it … and the carrier case, especially from a parental side.
Fantastic new Friend for our 6yr old grandchildren who play with “Notley” most days since their birthday in June. Very educational into the robot world. Great fun. I highly recommend it … and the carrier case, especially from a parental side.
There is this little boy I am making an effort every year for his bday.
There is this little boy I am making an effort every year for his bday.
Then there is his dad & mom, and a younger brother. Dad works in computers.
I don’t know how much time would be spent with it, tbh; but I got it for the boys to spend (fun) time playing together.
There is this little boy I am making an effort every year for his bday.
There is this little boy I am making an effort every year for his bday.
Then there is his dad & mom, and a younger brother. Dad works in computers.
I don’t know how much time would be spent with it, tbh; but I got it for the boys to spend (fun) time playing together.
A great purchase
Botley has become a loved member of our household, lol Seriously though, this robot is super cute and of course very intelligent. My children 5 and 7 love him! I don’t have anything negative to say about Botley. My children are learning while having loads of fun!
A great purchase
Botley has become a loved member of our household, lol Seriously though, this robot is super cute and of course very intelligent. My children 5 and 7 love him! I don’t have anything negative to say about Botley. My children are learning while having loads of fun!
Top notch
Fabulous robot to help little ones learn to code. Lots of great accessories, user friendly, interactive, fun and engaging. Highly recommended.
This is a great way of introducing coding to our 4 year old and he loves it, does exactly what it says on the box, is so much fun for the whole family and really gets out son thinking about making Botley do what’s needed to get around. Only slight negative I can think of is that there could be more of the mats that you put down as this helped out son to visualise how many “steps” it would take to get Botley from the start to the finish of a course. Even if they were available to buy as an extra accessory I think this might help the younger users. Other than that minuscule negative Botley is brilliant, fun and teaches coding in such a simplistic way that even I (someone who’s never done anything remotely computer based) can work it and enjoy it.
This is a great way of introducing coding to our 4 year old and he loves it, does exactly what it says on the box, is so much fun for the whole family and really gets out son thinking about making Botley do what’s needed to get around. Only slight negative I can think of is that there could be more of the mats that you put down as this helped out son to visualise how many “steps” it would take to get Botley from the start to the finish of a course. Even if they were available to buy as an extra accessory I think this might help the younger users. Other than that minuscule negative Botley is brilliant, fun and teaches coding in such a simplistic way that even I (someone who’s never done anything remotely computer based) can work it and enjoy it.
Nice robot for 4 year old boy, enjoys giving it instructions and is becoming more confident in doing so. Comes with lots of pieces that I’m sure will provide lots more fun as his confidence in coding increases.
Nice robot for 4 year old boy, enjoys giving it instructions and is becoming more confident in doing so. Comes with lots of pieces that I’m sure will provide lots more fun as his confidence in coding increases.
Botley is absolutely brilliant. I bought him as the xmas gift for my 7 year old son as I know they often use a similar bot at school to practice coding. My sister queried whether Botley would be too childish for a seven year old – but he holds up to 80 instructions so you can start to build some really complicated assault courses or set challenges for each other to knock down obstacles in a certain order. On xmas day everybody fought over him and even the grown ups found plotting the right course more of a challenge than they thought! The additional bits and bobs this set came with certainly helped make it more accessible for our younger cousin who owns the similar but simpler ‘Doc’ bot. What I really love about Botley is that you don’t need an app, tablet or phone to work him. Just a really simple remote control. We already have far too much staring at screens in this house so I didn’t want another toy that promoted that. Really pleased. Only strange thing – on the box is written in large letters ‘Straight to go right out of the box!’ But then in tiny print (requires 5 AA batteries not included’) !!! Which seemed a bit of a contradiction but luckily we had lots of batteries in the house or he wouldn’t have been as much fun on xmas morning!
Botley is absolutely brilliant. I bought him as the xmas gift for my 7 year old son as I know they often use a similar bot at school to practice coding. My sister queried whether Botley would be too childish for a seven year old – but he holds up to 80 instructions so you can start to build some really complicated assault courses or set challenges for each other to knock down obstacles in a certain order. On xmas day everybody fought over him and even the grown ups found plotting the right course more of a challenge than they thought! The additional bits and bobs this set came with certainly helped make it more accessible for our younger cousin who owns the similar but simpler ‘Doc’ bot. What I really love about Botley is that you don’t need an app, tablet or phone to work him. Just a really simple remote control. We already have far too much staring at screens in this house so I didn’t want another toy that promoted that. Really pleased. Only strange thing – on the box is written in large letters ‘Straight to go right out of the box!’ But then in tiny print (requires 5 AA batteries not included’) !!! Which seemed a bit of a contradiction but luckily we had lots of batteries in the house or he wouldn’t have been as much fun on xmas morning!
My daughter is 8 yrs old , we got this mainly because she too focused on watching tv or playing games on her iPad. What am amazing little bot . From the time she’s opened it she been busy using her imagination and coding it to do all sorts of things . I could be happier in the moment to the joy she’s getting from playing . 10/10 for me
My daughter is 8 yrs old , we got this mainly because she too focused on watching tv or playing games on her iPad. What am amazing little bot . From the time she’s opened it she been busy using her imagination and coding it to do all sorts of things . I could be happier in the moment to the joy she’s getting from playing . 10/10 for me
As a software engineer myself I really wanted to encourage my children to learn programming and Botly the friendly robot is a great and fun way for them to start. Its a fantastic product for kids to understand simple concepts of coding and you don’t have to be know coding yourself to help them, its very easy to use for everyone with detailed instructions and tips, highly recommended.
As a software engineer myself I really wanted to encourage my children to learn programming and Botly the friendly robot is a great and fun way for them to start. Its a fantastic product for kids to understand simple concepts of coding and you don’t have to be know coding yourself to help them, its very easy to use for everyone with detailed instructions and tips, highly recommended.
Coding for kids
We took Botley on holiday with us and used getting to know him as a great family activity but I also think Botley would be extremely valuable to primary schools as well. The 77 piece activity set is very chunky and sturdy and will withstand quite a bit of play. Botley is the next generation robot introducing coding fundamentals without a screen! Ready to use out of the box (you will need at least half a dozen AAA batteries for both the remote and Botley himself – not included). In the box you get Botley, a remote programmer, detachable robot arms, 40 x coding cards, 6 double sided tiles and 27 obstacle pieces. The instruction manual included is very thorough and easy to understand. The suggested age range is 5+ but even my toddler was able to getting a very basic understanding of how to control Botley. Highly recommended both for home and as an educational learning tool in schools and groups.
Fantastic early learning coding toy
This toy is pricey-but great. My children, aged 8 and 10, really enjoy coding the little robot. He can go forwards, backwards, left and right. The idea is to create increasingly complex coding commands to get the robot to undertake manoeuvres. There are also a few tricks, which you can follow using the instructions in the booklet and online.
The robot can also be programmed to carry out some simple if/then commands, in order to avoid an obstacle.
The activity set works because Botley the robot is very charming. He reminds me of Wall-e, the Pixar robot. He makes fun sounds and reacts quickly to commands.
I would recommend this for children aged 5-12. It’s fun and you get an introduction to coding without really noticing you’re learning.
My 6 year old grandson just loves this floor robot ...
My 6 year old grandson just loves this floor robot. It has loads of play value and even more learning value still to come.
A fantastic piece of kit, for a serious educational purpose
Complete with remote control, this robot allows you to programme it using simple logic AND / NAND / NOT instructions (etc). There is no screen and no downloadable app – it’s very ‘old school’ but it is highly engaging and stimualting and great for children to learn what real programming involves. Botley can then be used to negotiate a route, pick up objects, and even make simple ‘decisions’. It robust and made of tough plastic, so ideal to deal with the bumps of experimental use.
We had hours of fun with this and we’re still learning. My 6 year old loves it (with adult supervision) though I dare say the target audience is a lttle older.
Botley
I gave this to my boss and hisson who is 5 and just at the youngest recommended age for Botley. They both love it. My boss has said that wlst his son is still a bit young for the education part, he likes setting up the obstacles for his dad. And it’s great for grownups to learn from too.
When you open the Botley box be aware that you will need to have a couple of bits to hand in order to ensure your little one can start to play straight away. You will need 5AAA batteries and a small Phillips screwdriver in order to get Botley up and running.
Once out of the box you will end up with quite a large number of interesting looking parts, a chunky and well-constructed robot and a remote control. As the toy is aimed for those 5 years old and up and requires some understanding of concepts as well as the ability to read/follow instructions it is likely that as a parent you will be heavily involved in helping your child get to grips with how Botley works. Also if you have younger children you may want to ensure they are well distracted before getting going with this as it does attract little minds and this can prove awkward if they get in the way of someone else trying to programme things. For us we found it was far better to try and start off with some individual sessions to help our son get his head around the concepts involved.
Botley works by getting children to use basic coding techniques to get him to move round little mazes, past obstacles and to reach targets as well as avoid obstacles etc. You can work with the items provided with Botley or spend some time working round obstacles in the home to get used to the controls. We have found that sometimes instructions for toys like this can be a little complex but these were clear and easy to follow and once our son had grasped the basics he was keen to try and work on his own. This ended with errors on numerous occasions but he soon grasped the idea of having to try again — something which he has been frustrated with in other toys, not liking the fact he has made an error. You have some simple functions but there are more complex operations as well meaning that there is quite a bit of longevity to the toy and means boredom does not set in quickly. We still have quite a bit to explore with this.
It is really great to see the growth in toys which encourage STEM learning. As technology develops it will become more important that children are familiar with these concepts from an early age in order to be able to assimilate more complex knowledge later on. Our six year old is really enjoying getting to grips with Botley, he still has a lot to get out of the toy and likes trying to work things out on his own. Hopefully as she grows bigger his little sister will also have the same curiosity and Botley will help her to grasp these techniques as well.
When you open the Botley box be aware that you will need to have a couple of bits to hand in order to ensure your little one can start to play straight away. You will need 5AAA batteries and a small Phillips screwdriver in order to get Botley up and running.
Once out of the box you will end up with quite a large number of interesting looking parts, a chunky and well-constructed robot and a remote control. As the toy is aimed for those 5 years old and up and requires some understanding of concepts as well as the ability to read/follow instructions it is likely that as a parent you will be heavily involved in helping your child get to grips with how Botley works. Also if you have younger children you may want to ensure they are well distracted before getting going with this as it does attract little minds and this can prove awkward if they get in the way of someone else trying to programme things. For us we found it was far better to try and start off with some individual sessions to help our son get his head around the concepts involved.
Botley works by getting children to use basic coding techniques to get him to move round little mazes, past obstacles and to reach targets as well as avoid obstacles etc. You can work with the items provided with Botley or spend some time working round obstacles in the home to get used to the controls. We have found that sometimes instructions for toys like this can be a little complex but these were clear and easy to follow and once our son had grasped the basics he was keen to try and work on his own. This ended with errors on numerous occasions but he soon grasped the idea of having to try again — something which he has been frustrated with in other toys, not liking the fact he has made an error. You have some simple functions but there are more complex operations as well meaning that there is quite a bit of longevity to the toy and means boredom does not set in quickly. We still have quite a bit to explore with this.
It is really great to see the growth in toys which encourage STEM learning. As technology develops it will become more important that children are familiar with these concepts from an early age in order to be able to assimilate more complex knowledge later on. Our six year old is really enjoying getting to grips with Botley, he still has a lot to get out of the toy and likes trying to work things out on his own. Hopefully as she grows bigger his little sister will also have the same curiosity and Botley will help her to grasp these techniques as well.
An amazing little robot.....
This is an amazing little activity robot. It was all new to me so the five year-old and I were learning together. The five year-old took to it enthusiastically and was soon working out his own commands. Botley can follow a black line, be programmed to follow a specific route, knock over obstacles and even detect and avoid them.
There is a very clear instruction booklet and lots of interesting activities to try out. It is the sort of toy that a child can return to again and again and gradually build up their skills. The activities help to develop logical thinking and early coding skills.
Great fun….
The kids range from 1 to almost 7. The eldest had a ball showing the younger ones the functionality, the four year old is learning and the one year old thinks Botley is his pet! Hearing the elder two talk through scenarios as they problem solve is worth every penny!
The kids range from 1 to almost 7. The eldest had a ball showing the younger ones the functionality, the four year old is learning and the one year old thinks Botley is his pet! Hearing the elder two talk through scenarios as they problem solve is worth every penny!
My 5 year old loved it, that is, when she can get it back off Grandad
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this robot when it arrived but it has been a big hit with both of my daughters (seven and three years old). Obviously it’s a bit above the understanding of my three-year-old but my eldest daughter loves Botly and has already gotten the hang of programming him. She still needs a bit of help with the more advanced functions but she has only been playing with the robot for a few days.
The robot and remote need five AAA batteries between them which don’t come in the box (bit stingy) but luckily I had a few in the house so my daughter could play with it as soon as she opened it. The good news is that the robot does seem to power off automatically if left on but not used.
As well as the robot and controller, you also get a mask with some clip on arms (for programming the robot to move objects), objects to move, obstacles (cones) to avoid, reversible boards with a black line track to follow (and coloured squares on the other side for basic movement programming), some flags, and a plastic circle to deposit the objects in.
The manual is easy to follow and helps you discover Botly’s basic and more advanced functions. It also gives intricate detail into how to find the “hidden easter eggs”…so they’re not actually “hidden” or “easter eggs” at all.
The robot is sold quite heavily on the whole coding aspect (which seems to be a hot topic a the moment for children, I really don’t know why) and I would say it offers a very basic introduction to the sort of things you would expect to see in coding (mostly if…then…else situations) but don’t expect your child to come away with a great understanding of coding. As with many of these Learning Resource toys, it’s more of a play reinforcing learning situation.
Botly has enough functions and bundled gear to keep a child entertained for quite a while and both of my daughters keep coming back to him to see what else they can get him to do. It’s certainly quite different from most toys and while it is a bit expensive, I do think it’s worth the money.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this robot when it arrived but it has been a big hit with both of my daughters (seven and three years old). Obviously it’s a bit above the understanding of my three-year-old but my eldest daughter loves Botly and has already gotten the hang of programming him. She still needs a bit of help with the more advanced functions but she has only been playing with the robot for a few days.
The robot and remote need five AAA batteries between them which don’t come in the box (bit stingy) but luckily I had a few in the house so my daughter could play with it as soon as she opened it. The good news is that the robot does seem to power off automatically if left on but not used.
As well as the robot and controller, you also get a mask with some clip on arms (for programming the robot to move objects), objects to move, obstacles (cones) to avoid, reversible boards with a black line track to follow (and coloured squares on the other side for basic movement programming), some flags, and a plastic circle to deposit the objects in.
The manual is easy to follow and helps you discover Botly’s basic and more advanced functions. It also gives intricate detail into how to find the “hidden easter eggs”…so they’re not actually “hidden” or “easter eggs” at all.
The robot is sold quite heavily on the whole coding aspect (which seems to be a hot topic a the moment for children, I really don’t know why) and I would say it offers a very basic introduction to the sort of things you would expect to see in coding (mostly if…then…else situations) but don’t expect your child to come away with a great understanding of coding. As with many of these Learning Resource toys, it’s more of a play reinforcing learning situation.
Botly has enough functions and bundled gear to keep a child entertained for quite a while and both of my daughters keep coming back to him to see what else they can get him to do. It’s certainly quite different from most toys and while it is a bit expensive, I do think it’s worth the money.
We really love our botley
We really love our botley. It’s easy to use and we found the instructions easy to follow. It works really well and is great fun. Our daughter who is 8 loved it and we use it for our home education lessons. Comes with all you need and is super cute to boot.. well worth it for any techno minded kids.
Beautiful little toy that helps with learning many new skills - not just STEM.
This is a really special toy. There is so much depth to it and to what a child can do with it. This toy will help children develop problem solving skills, logic skills, planning skills, coding skills – and persistence and patience as well. And, being a personal challenge, it is non-competitive and there are no consequences to not getting it right first time. Every step that does not work is part of the learning process and that kind of experience is even better than the heavily emphasised STEM skills. But not giving up and keeping on having a go until you get it is by far the most valuable life skill as well as educational skill any child can gain. And this amazing little toy is perfect for that. It is also a lovely opportunity for a parent to help as well – a great shared teaching and learning activity.
Brillia
This was very impressive. As long as you have batteries handy of course. I haven’t that much of a chance to play with this myself which is a good sign of course.The other reviews give plenty of details so I won’t bore you by repeating them other than to say that this is highly recommended.
Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Se
Aiming to help children learn the basics of coding (i.e. logic and commands), ‘Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set’ is a cute and well-thought out activity set. It comprises a little blue box with big eyes and wheels (reminded me of Wall-E!), and comes with a chunky plastic remote controller and a selection of tracks, accessories and obstacles for him to navigate, following the programmer’s commands. There is a sensor underneath the robot which allows him to follow a line, and track cards are provided with black lines on which fit with this. He has little detachable arms which can be programmed to pick up and carry things, and there are plastic balls, cones and other things in the set for him to interact with. We really loved that, unlike similar items we have looked at, Botley is a completely self-contained item, and you do not need a smartphone or tablet to control him – this makes him more suitable for younger children, as it doesn’t distract them with the screen, and also means they won’t break your phone! Botley needs five AAA batteries to work (these are not included, which seems a little mean), and the battery life is fairly good with moderate play time.
Engaging and a great introduction to the building blocks of the concept of programming, plus ever so cute, we love Botley!
Coding Robo
This is a great educational toy for the modern age. Designed for 5-9 year olds it functions as an introduction to coding. It is easy to use though I would say that lots of 5 year olds will need some help not that this is a disadvantage it just gives mum and dad an excuse to play/learn too. It’s solidly built so you get the impression that it will last. Batteries are not included and you need 5AAA batteries so it’s good to remember to buy some as not many people have that number lying around the house. The functions it is programmed to do are quite basic (move forwards/backwards/pick up small ball etc) but it is good fun and educational too.
Really fun learning toy
Botley is a surprisingly fun and educational toy, suitable for younger children (it suggests 5+, which is about right). There’s a lot of kit in the box, but once you get it up and running it’s great fun. You can set up combinations of commands, which you send to Botley for him to carry out. You’ll probably find one or more mistakes, but that’s part of the fun here – it’s essentially a child-friendly debugging lesson.
You can also use more advanced features like obstacle detection, which works really well, but a lot of this does require that you read the manual properly, which is a new concept to me! Luckily my son is really interested in finding out new features, so he’s given me the encouragement to do it. Although you can get him moving around easily enough, it really is essential to read the manual in order to get the most out of this.
It’s a very solid build, and should last a long time. The only thing that’s annoying is that Botley himself needs an odd number of AAA batteries (three) – we use rechargeable batteries wherever possible, so it’s real pain having to keep a single spare battery lying around ready to be swapped in and out of rotation. That’s just a niggle though really, other than that this has been a great toy that teaches the basic principles of coding surprisingly well.
I am very pleased with the latest robot to enter my home, Botley the Coding Robot. The overall build quality and range of activities that come in the package are excellent.
I tested the robot with my five and seven year old grandsons, as I was especially interested to find out if this is an ‘age appropriate’ item – the manufacturer’s claim is that it’s suitable for ages 5 to 9. The five year old struggled to see beyond the robot’s function as a remote control vehicle, but the seven year old, who has had an introduction to coding concepts at school, was soon deep into the manual and activity guide, and showing off more advanced features.
Botley and his remote control are both built very well – like normal toys for this age group they can withstand knocks, drops and bumps and they feel like solid Fisher Price toys of old. The extras in the box are well thought out and very important for making Botley come to life – for example, by programming him to pick up a small ball and drop it somewhere else, as well as driving along the track provided.
There are a few ‘Easter eggs’ (hidden features) and my grandsons enjoyed finding these.
The manual is arguably the most important part of the package, especially the coding challenges which increase in difficulty.
Overall this is an excellent little machine for children getting in to coding. My only reservation is that 5 may be a little too young to access the more advanced features. However the build quality means that Botley should be around for a couple of years and certainly by age 7, children will really relish the challenge of commanding their robot and experimenting with it. Note: the first set of batteries have survived a month of heavy use.
I am very pleased with the latest robot to enter my home, Botley the Coding Robot. The overall build quality and range of activities that come in the package are excellent.
I tested the robot with my five and seven year old grandsons, as I was especially interested to find out if this is an ‘age appropriate’ item – the manufacturer’s claim is that it’s suitable for ages 5 to 9. The five year old struggled to see beyond the robot’s function as a remote control vehicle, but the seven year old, who has had an introduction to coding concepts at school, was soon deep into the manual and activity guide, and showing off more advanced features.
Botley and his remote control are both built very well – like normal toys for this age group they can withstand knocks, drops and bumps and they feel like solid Fisher Price toys of old. The extras in the box are well thought out and very important for making Botley come to life – for example, by programming him to pick up a small ball and drop it somewhere else, as well as driving along the track provided.
There are a few ‘Easter eggs’ (hidden features) and my grandsons enjoyed finding these.
The manual is arguably the most important part of the package, especially the coding challenges which increase in difficulty.
Overall this is an excellent little machine for children getting in to coding. My only reservation is that 5 may be a little too young to access the more advanced features. However the build quality means that Botley should be around for a couple of years and certainly by age 7, children will really relish the challenge of commanding their robot and experimenting with it. Note: the first set of batteries have survived a month of heavy use.
There are two versions of the Botley robot, the standard set and the set with the activity pack, which I’m reviewing. I REALLY recommend getting this one with the activity set.
You get a very sturdy little robot, a child friendly remote (which still does need some explaining for the more obscure buttons) and a bunch of little tracks and obstacles. Did I mention sturdy? Getting into the battery compartment alone was a struggle.
This isn’t the sort of toy you’re going to hand to your child and then give it a cheery wave as you walk away. You’re going to have to do the work and ideally sit down and read through the exercises before going through them with the child. Out of the box, without looking at the instructions you will probably figure out how to get Botley to repeat simple movement instructions, but there’s a lot more to do, you just need to put the effort in.
I’m really impressed with Botley, somewhat less so with the remote, but overall the package is excellent.
I think it’s a stretch to say it’ll teach your child to code, but it reinforces two core concepts. Firstly it teaches the child to think in “instruction steps” when entering a series of commands through the remote. Secondly it gives you a limited IF/THEN function so you can program how Botley responds to obstacles. This is actually quite powerful stuff.
It’s rare I try a toy and think, you know what this needs – more things for me to buy, but it’s crying out for more items to interact with. Perhaps that’ll be a hypothetical Botley mark II. Of course by then Botley will probably have taken all our jobs and we won’t think he’s so cute any longer.
This is a fantastic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) coding robot and activity set from learning resources.
Botley is a total winner as it introduces children to a basic understanding of what coding is, which essentially is setting up a discrete series of commands which must be followed in order to reach a specific outcome.
This activity set includes 77 pieces: Botley robot, remote programmer, detachable robot arms, 40 coding cards, six boards, eight sticks, 12 cubes, two cones, two flags, two balls, a goal and a sheet of stickers. We recommend going to the Learning Resources website and watch the Botley demo video. This will help you to understand how to use the coding cards.
We used 4 cards as a sequence and added onto it each time when coding was successful. When the desired outcome was not attained, we removed or added a step using cards as visual aids to help us keep track. After playing with it for a few hours already, we created a maze where Botley first had to collect a ball and then go through the maze pattern to ultimately position the ball at the end of the maze.
Our 6-year-old thoroughly enjoys coding Botley and now he wants to create an android of his own (similar to PAL from the Amazon show, Annedroids). This product takes time to get to grips with before it can be fully appreciated but on the whole we’re very pleased with this offering from learning resources, which provides hours of engagement, entertainment and is educational too.
The only downside is the need for plenty of space to let Botley roam (preferably a hard and flat surface; also works on carpet but thick pile would be a problem). Looking forward to getting more complex coding!
Botley is ace, really good way into coding for younger kids.
Its like Big Trak’s cuter, more compact, less irritating younger cousin! My youngest daughter has been playing with this all week, using the many accessories to try moving different things, the line option, the code option and really enjoying it. Botley is small compact and weirdly ‘cute’, with some nice voice touches when he advances or if you forget about him for a bit… making the whole experience quite fun. Would definately recommend for younger potential scientists (and even older ones, as I have had a few plays too). Great!
This is a fantastic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) coding robot and activity set from learning resources.
Botley is a total winner as it introduces children to a basic understanding of what coding is, which essentially is setting up a discrete series of commands which must be followed in order to reach a specific outcome.
This activity set includes 77 pieces: Botley robot, remote programmer, detachable robot arms, 40 coding cards, six boards, eight sticks, 12 cubes, two cones, two flags, two balls, a goal and a sheet of stickers. We recommend going to the Learning Resources website and watch the Botley demo video. This will help you to understand how to use the coding cards.
We used 4 cards as a sequence and added onto it each time when coding was successful. When the desired outcome was not attained, we removed or added a step using cards as visual aids to help us keep track. After playing with it for a few hours already, we created a maze where Botley first had to collect a ball and then go through the maze pattern to ultimately position the ball at the end of the maze.
Our 6-year-old thoroughly enjoys coding Botley and now he wants to create an android of his own (similar to PAL from the Amazon show, Annedroids). This product takes time to get to grips with before it can be fully appreciated but on the whole we’re very pleased with this offering from learning resources, which provides hours of engagement, entertainment and is educational too.
The only downside is the need for plenty of space to let Botley roam (preferably a hard and flat surface; also works on carpet but thick pile would be a problem). Looking forward to getting more complex coding!
Botley is an exciting toy to unpack — all those bits – what will they do? That fat little robot — can’t wait to see it go. To avoid waiting, make sure you have five AAA batteries ready, and a small cross-head screwdriver so you can open the battery doors on Botley and his remote control. There is a good instruction booklet to get you started. I had a bright seven-year-old ready to grab the remote and she got the hang right away. The basic idea is that you record program steps in the remote controller, then transmit the program to Botley, who does what he’s been told to do, with some friendly noises and brief bursts of speech (not very loud).
There is an immediate and vital lesson — that coding is highly error-prone, but when something goes wrong (bug, glitch), you have another go and get it right. You don’t have to say a word — Botley gets this lesson across. You can command Botley to move forward and backward, and turn 90 degrees (more or less) left or right. As long as you don’t erase your program, you can add more commands on the end and build up complex moves. Before tackling the problems in the book, we played at getting Botley to steer routes around the furniture and deliberately bash into some of the plastic accessories. Repeated command sequences can be eased by using a rudimentary loop function, but it is really just a repeat, not a controlled loop as in a programming language. You can’t save a command sequence, so if you come up with something you might want again, you’ll have to write it down.
Then we read about the obstacle detection, and this really adds a lot of fun. If you switch it on, then Botley can detect an object or a wall ahead, and will then do . . . whatever you decide (e.g. turn around, move off to the side, spin in panic). Suddenly, we were trying to program a self-driving car!
This toy won’t turn a child into a coder, but it will stimulate logical thinking, experimenting, trying again, and doing the most with limited resources. Not bad life skills, I think. And all done without needing a smart phone, tablet, or computer. It is good fun for an adult and child working together, because you will be talking all the time, and if my experience is anything to go by, laughing a lot. With all the accessories, you can build mazes, obstacle courses, and things for Botley to do. Adults – I think you have to let the child set up everything, and put in the commands. Your job is only to get the batteries in! Like me, you will want to play with Botley, so wait until after bedtime.
I like this a lot. This is a great produc
I like this a lot. This is a great product even though t’s fairly pricey and requires a lot of batteries, 3 AAA for the robot and 2 AAA for the controller. It’s a joy to use with easy pickup and entertainment for 5-7 year olds. I was quite impressed with the capabilities on display, it’s easy to control and set up the scenarios. It feels pretty robust, not sure it’s 100% child proof but for a complex product it’s pretty good. Lots of really good accessories like scenario card, arms, control challenges. I think this is a lot better value than the stand alone robot and is a lot of fun.
which are easy to follow
I’m a fan of Botley. I’ve seen some other coding robots, but Botley has to be the most robust one. Surprisingly cute too. Very thorough instructions, which are easy to follow, and I like the inclusion of a few easter eggs (more online too). Coding is simply a series of commands, and this is a really good way of introducing kids to the process. We also enjoyed the fact that Botley can follow a black line – a surprising amount of time was spent running round to place the cards down again to keep him going. Much more to do with him, and we’re really enjoying it. Recommended.
If you are giving “Botley” as a special present remember two important things:
1. It needs 5 Triple A batteries – personally I think these should be included in the box due to the price of this learning resource.
2. You will need a flat surface (not carpet) for Botley to be effective. Outside might be fine, but not in bright sunlight.
Well I felt these 2 things need pointing out at the very start.
So onto Botley – A really great activity and fun robot with a cute little face. Starting with the most basic steps you can soon develop onto more complicated and interesting stages.
The box consists of Botley, plus remote, robot arms,6 boards, 40 coding cards, 12 cubes,2 cones, 2 flags,2 balls, 1 goal and a sticker sheet. All
these items are in zingy attractive colours.
The instruction book is excellent and explains how to start with the very basics and build on that knowledge as your coding skills increase (and have great fun at the same time).
I have had a sneaky go at the very first 3 instructions (ahead of my grandaughter coming just to show I do know something about robots and coding).
Superb
What a superb little robot and introduction to coding.
You can create ‘codes’ for Botley to execute and you can programme via the remote also so it works on a few levels depending on age.
The sensor under him can follow the black lines on the cards and he can be programmed to do a variety of things. So you could draw a black line for him to follow for example
He makes cute noises and sounds and the best bit is no screen. You dont need a pad or companion app etc
Adorable and endearing Botley.
Botley is educational and fun, and lovely. Botley is a little robot who will entertain and teach children critical learning skills at the same time. The recommended age is from five years upwards. A good investment because our little tester is getting to grips with the easier,tasks and is itching now to move on to the more tricky ones.
Five AAA batteries are needed for Botley, three for him and two for the child size remote. Included with Botwly are 12 cubes, 8 rods and 40 coding cards together with 2 comes, 2 balls, 2 flags and a large orange circle which Botely has to reach. The remote beeps and illuminates every time she presses the button when coding which is a great help to her.
So easy to use and get started but as you progress the tasks do get quite challenging, this is a tool that will challenge children but grow with them and I cannot recommend Botley highly enough, I think we are all a little bit in love with him.
We brought Botley for our son’s 8th Birthday. When he opened the present and saw what it was his face was absolutely priceless! It’s an amazing gadget. He has learnt to programme Botley to do a multitude of things and as we brought the upgraded Botley his brother was able to play alongside him which has resulted in hours of fun. This is not only a brilliant toy but also an amazing learning resource! I couldn’t recommend it more. He loves it!