--- product_id: 72652369 title: "" brand: "thames & kosmos" price: "$244.48" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 category: "Thames & Kosmos" url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/72652369- store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # 200+ physical code cards, no app needed 64-page full-color guided manual 417-piece interactive robot kit **Brand:** thames & kosmos **Price:** $244.48 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🚀 Ignite young minds with the ultimate screen-free coding adventure! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** by thames & kosmos - **How much does it cost?** $244.48 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/72652369-) ## Best For - thames & kosmos enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted thames & kosmos brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Built to Last & Grow:** Durable pieces and 30+ lessons keep kids challenged and entertained from ages 4 to 8. - • **Award-Winning STEM Fun:** Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner ensures trusted, high-quality early coding education. - • **Hands-On Coding Mastery:** Unplugged, screen-free programming with tangible code cards sparks real-world logic skills. - • **Future-Proof Foundations:** Teaches sequences, loops, functions, events, and variables aligned with CSTA & ISTE standards. - • **Multi-Story Learning Adventure:** Six storylines engage kids with relatable scenarios, making coding concepts stick effortlessly. ## Overview Kids First Coding & Robotics by Thames & Kosmos is a 417-piece STEM kit designed for ages 4-8 that teaches foundational coding concepts through hands-on, screen-free play. Featuring over 200 physical code cards and a 64-page full-color manual, it offers 30 lessons across six story-driven challenges. This Parents’ Choice Gold Award-winning kit aligns with recognized computer science standards and requires no apps or devices, making it perfect for early learners to build critical thinking and programming skills in a fun, durable, and educational format. ## Description desertcart.com: Toys & Games Review: Easily the best coding primer for kids < 8 I've ever seen - First of all, I took a bit of a leap on this one because we had mixed results with another kit from the same company (the candy claw machine). It was VERY complex and it ended up my wife and I had to do the bulk of the construction. I worried this would be similarly challenging, bit it is PERFECT for younger kids (I'd say < 8 but even a 10 year old would probably have a blast). And once the physical construction is done that's where the real fun begins. The kit comes with two different types of cards that fit together like jigsaw pieces: programming cards and map cards. You use the former to "program" the bot and the latter to let it "execute" that program from its memory. It's worth mentioning I've had a number of false starts getting my kids (7 and 5) into the basics of coding. Typically the teaching tools I've found are either non-intuitive to a kid, or if they are the principles they impart are often non-transferable. If the lessons gleaned are entirely internal to the game or tool, what good is that? Within 20 minutes of beginning to lay out their programs, my kids were immediately learning highly transferable lessons about syntax, object orientation, debugging, trimming sequences to make them shorter without sacrificing functionality, etc. And all without the need for a complicated tablet app or any such thing. Everything you need comes with the kit. The construction feels hardy enough to withstand even the most brutish kids and the whole thing has the feel of a toy to them. Both of my kids are on Scratch almost every day (haven't quite made the leap to Python with my oldest), but I dare say this kit more efficiently taught them the most foundational and transferable principles of coding of any tool I've seen yet. Don't be scared of the price tag. Many dozens of lessons and experiments will keep the insights running for quite a while. This thing is worth every penny! My sense is if your kid is in Grade 4+, you can probably just skip straight to a real language. There will be struggles, but they may as well learn a real language at that point. The insights about syntax and debugging and such will just come from experience. But for younger kids this is the best tool I've ever seen for teaching the foundations of coding, bar none. Review: Great for kids! - Great Christmas gift for a kid! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B07B7SWPZJ | | Best Sellers Rank | #99,262 in Office Products ( See Top 100 in Office Products ) #29,412 in Education Supplies & Craft Supplies | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (424) | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00814743013490 | | Is Assembly Required | Yes | | Item Dimensions | 16.8 x 3.2 x 11.5 inches | | Item Weight | 142 Grams | | Manufacturer Part Number | 567012 | | Model Number | 567012 | | UPC | 814743013490 | | Unit Count | 1.0 Count | ## Images ![ - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81OjbPktMVL.jpg) ![ - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71uvSWBanvL.jpg) ![ - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71+kxDbVD8L.jpg) ![ - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719TcTvhKkL.jpg) ![ - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81hwHEOdWBL.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: What does this do that makes it almost 3x as expensive as coding robot Botley?** A: The Kids First Coding & Robotics Kit is more extensive . This item comes with more parts and has 30 lessons that progress in complexity. **Q: How specifically is this better than the $40. Botley?** A: Kids First Coding & Robotics has graduated lessons for kids aged 4 to 8. The 30 lessons provided are aligned with standards for computer science education developed by the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA). Guidelines from the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) and courses from Code.org were also referenced in the creation of these lessons. Details on the specific standards and curriculum can be found on the Thames & Kosmos website. **Q: Can you program your own instructions? Or do you have to follow the manual?** A: Thank you for your question. You can definitely create your own codes using the code cards. You can learn more about what each code card does b going to pages 5 and 59 of the manual here: https://www.thamesandkosmos.com/manuals/full/567012_Kids-First-Coding&Robotics-Manual.pdf **Q: When we push record it has a flashing green light and it doesn’t move.... any ideas as to why?** A: It would be suggested to press the erase button for up to 10 seconds. Once the light stops flashing the memory will be cleared. Then repeat the record stage. Please contact the manufacturer for any further trouble shooting or technical information. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Easily the best coding primer for kids < 8 I've ever seen *by A***R on March 7, 2022* First of all, I took a bit of a leap on this one because we had mixed results with another kit from the same company (the candy claw machine). It was VERY complex and it ended up my wife and I had to do the bulk of the construction. I worried this would be similarly challenging, bit it is PERFECT for younger kids (I'd say < 8 but even a 10 year old would probably have a blast). And once the physical construction is done that's where the real fun begins. The kit comes with two different types of cards that fit together like jigsaw pieces: programming cards and map cards. You use the former to "program" the bot and the latter to let it "execute" that program from its memory. It's worth mentioning I've had a number of false starts getting my kids (7 and 5) into the basics of coding. Typically the teaching tools I've found are either non-intuitive to a kid, or if they are the principles they impart are often non-transferable. If the lessons gleaned are entirely internal to the game or tool, what good is that? Within 20 minutes of beginning to lay out their programs, my kids were immediately learning highly transferable lessons about syntax, object orientation, debugging, trimming sequences to make them shorter without sacrificing functionality, etc. And all without the need for a complicated tablet app or any such thing. Everything you need comes with the kit. The construction feels hardy enough to withstand even the most brutish kids and the whole thing has the feel of a toy to them. Both of my kids are on Scratch almost every day (haven't quite made the leap to Python with my oldest), but I dare say this kit more efficiently taught them the most foundational and transferable principles of coding of any tool I've seen yet. Don't be scared of the price tag. Many dozens of lessons and experiments will keep the insights running for quite a while. This thing is worth every penny! My sense is if your kid is in Grade 4+, you can probably just skip straight to a real language. There will be struggles, but they may as well learn a real language at that point. The insights about syntax and debugging and such will just come from experience. But for younger kids this is the best tool I've ever seen for teaching the foundations of coding, bar none. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great for kids! *by J***S on March 14, 2026* Great Christmas gift for a kid! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great robotic and coding package for kids. Lots of parts, time consuming *by S***. on February 1, 2020* Great package! Keeps my 5 year old busy for hours putting the parts together and coding the route. It’s fun cuz it makes sound and can make one robot interact with another. Comes with clear instructions for both adult and kids to put everything together. Slight downside is the number of parts that comes with it. Require time to put together before it runs for the first time. Moving on to the next chapter require tearing down of the previous robots u created. My 5yo didn’t want to tear it down cuz she spent so much time making it. ## Frequently Bought Together - Kids First Coding & Robotics | No App Needed | Grades K-2 | Intro To Sequences, Loops, Functions, Conditions, Events, Algorithms, Variables | Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner | by Thames & Kosmos - Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit, Over 100 Projects, Full Color Project Manual, 28 Parts, STEM Educational Toy for Kids 8 + - The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes (Klutz Activity Kit) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/72652369-](https://www.desertcart.us/products/72652369-) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-04-28*