Disclosure - we were given Botley free of charge for the purpose of this Botley 2.0 review. All opinions are honest and our own.
In this modern age, it is really important that children learn about technology. Technology is in our future and by teaching children how to work and understand it we are setting them up and preparing them for the future. We are living in an age where learning to code is akin to basic literacy, and not only that, but learning about coding helps with mathematics, communication, creativity and confidence.
National Coding Week with Maddie Moate
This week is National Coding Week (14th-20th September) and I am working with the brilliant Learning Resources to introduce you to the Botley 2.0 in this Botley 2.0 review.
One of our favourite BBC presenters and EduTubers Maddie Moate is a huge fan of coding and endorses Botley 2.0.
“Coding is one of the most widely used ‘languages’ on the planet – powering computers, robots, and software across the globe. It’s easy to be daunted by the prospect of coding if it’s not something you’re familiar with. But even learning the basics of coding – which children can start to learn from as young as four – can help to boost children’s skills and ability across the entire learning journey,”
Botley 2.0 is a great little toy, providing screen free educational entertainment for your little one. My daughter (9) absolutely loves him and has spent hours coding him to walk around the table, weave in between it's legs and her next task is to programme him to send him into a different room to fetch something!
What is in the box?
You get Botley 2.0, attachable arms and various bits and bobs to use for different coding actvities. There is also a really useful instruction booklet which guides you through how to use him and gives you some coding activities, working up from easy to more difficult. My 9 year old was able to work through these herself.
You will need to purchase batteries separately, 5 AAA batteries in total for the remote and Botley 2.0 himself.
How Does Botley 2.0 work?
Botley 2.0 is really easy to use. It comes with a remote which you use to program him. There are different coloured arrows which you press to program it to move, forwards, backwards, left, right etc. You simply press in a sequence of moves and press transmit and Botley 2.0 will perform them in turn. You can add or delete moves, or delete the whole sequence and start again. You can programme a sequence of up to 150 steps in 6 directions.
Code in Colour
Botley 2.0 has a light sensor and his eyes will light up in the dark. You can also programme Botley 2.0 so that he dances and his eyes flash in different colours. Press and hold the light button until Botley 2.0 makes a short tune, then programme the sequence of colours and press transmit.
Object Detetction
Botley 2.0 is able to detect objects in front of him and you can code him to move in a particular way should he come across something that blocks his path. This means that you can programme Botley 2.0 so that he will move around something put in his path. There are cones in your set that are perfect for setting up as obstacles.
Black Line Coding
Botley 2.0 will also follow a black line. If you switch the button on his base to 'line' mode he will follow a black line. There are cards included which you can use as a placemat for this or you could also draw a thick black line on a large piece of paper and he would follow it.
Detachable Robot Arms
Botley 2.0 has detachable arms which means you can programme him to collect a small object and push it along with his arms. Programming him to do this requires a little patience and trial and error but it is so rewarding when you get it right!
Secret Codes
There are also secret codes which you can programme into Botley 2.0, they are listed in the instruction booklet. You can make it kiss or sound like a police car or frog, and many other fun things. The children loved these features and testing them all out!
You can pick up the Botley 2.0 Activity Set for £85 from Learning Resources and I'd definitely recommend it. It would make a great Christmas gift and has provided hours of education entertainment in our house.
Learning Resources is a great company specialising in educational toys. We have worked with them before (read the post here) and their website is my go-to for toys and games with an educational basis. They have a brilliant selection of coding toys and some fun screen free coding activities you can do here.
Did you enjoy this Botley 2.0 review post? Share it with your friends or Pin it for later.
You might also like...
Leave a Reply