Robotic toys are interactive, promote inventive play and in some cases, can teach us mechanical and engineering skills. It’s hard to get bored when you have a robot in the vicinity, they are like small intelligent creatures and when they interact with the environment around them, they become our little friends. We’ve compiled a list of the best robots out there this year and why we love them; we know you will too!
Robotic Toys: Best of Everything
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Best for 2011 Fijit Friends: Fijit will become your girl’s new best friend as they chat, dance and interact together. Fijit is the squishy, perfect for cuddles and a fun playmate for your child. There are three different friends, all with their own personalities; Sporty, Adventurous and Sweetie. Fijit is loaded with jokes, phrases and a special beat detector so she can dance to your daughter’s favorite music. Each friend also has their own special songs that they will sing for their best friend. The hottest robotic toy of 2011, the Fijit Friends are a marvel of technology. Why We Like It:Many robotic toys are made for boys, but Fijit Friends is specifically made for girls, making it extra special. With hundreds of jokes and phrases, it provides hours of entertainment and laughs. The soft belly is poke able fun and the squishy ears are interchangeable, allowing your girl to make her friend as uniquely special as she is. |
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Building Toy LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0: Take Lego’s to the next level by building something that you can program to see, speak, feel and move. Perfect for inventive play, the set comes with everything needed to build and program a unique and one of a kind robot. The included instructions make the challenge of building this robot easy and the possibilities are endless. Build a roving machine, a marching upright robot or a special intelligent futuristic contraption. Whatever your child chooses to build, they will love playing with the interactive toy upon completion! Why We Like It:The Lego Mindstorms are challenging, but not overly challenging to the point where they can’t be completed. It is the perfect combination of labor and fun to make this science toy and must have for boys! With the programmable software, builders can customize their robots in numerous different and fun ways, making it impossible to have any two robots alike. |
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Pets Hexbugs: Hexbugs are a pretty cool little robotic toy. These little bugs scurry around a room and avoid obstacles using their sound sensors and feelers. The Hexbugs come in different colors and styles and it’s fun to get a few different kinds and watch them bump in to and away from each other. Toss bouncing balls and other small items in to the mix and watch the Hexbugs go scurrying all around. These tiny robots provide hours of entertainment and plenty of laughs along the way. Why We Like It:Hexbugs are inexpensive, which makes them great stocking stuffers or secondary gifts. The microprocessors make them different then the larger robots that you would normally control; your surroundings control these robots. |
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Dinosaur Roboraptor: Roboraptor is a predatory dinosaur robot with instincts to match his wild technology! His mood determines his behavior and kids will have a blast watching him change from mood to mood. He’ll go into predatory mode, nervous and cautious mode, or into a friendly, playful mode depending on how he wakes up. Laser tracking system allows you to draw his path to the prey, and he’ll follow it. He loves to play tug of war, and his built in sensors will keep him from walking in to walls. With forty preprogrammed functions, you can assured that the Roboraptor dinosaur toy is up for anything! Why We Like It:This is a fun dinosaur robot and kids will love controlling him. They will also love putting him in “Roam” mode and watching what he does. His your household has pets, be ready for laughs as Roboraptor will seek them out in roam mode and your pets will think he is another animal! |
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Robotic Arm OWI Robotic Arm Edge: Do you have a boy in your life who is constantly taking apart and putting back together machines and electronics? Then the Robotic Arm Edge is the perfect choice for him! Boys can construct the arm and then command it to pick up, release, rotate and bend. Boys will love building the arm and then putting it to work. Can it clean a room? I bet your boy will try to figure out how he can command it do that! Why We Like It:Unlike many robotic arms, OWI designed this one with no soldering requiring, making it a safe alternative to many others that are out there. We consider any toy that teaches to be the best toys for growing kids, and this is no exception. Teaches much need mechanical skills at an early age! |
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Dog FurReal Friends Cookie: With realistic movements, sounds and actions, Playful Pup Cookie lets you experience the joy of having a puppy of your very own. When you pet her on her head or back, she barks, moves her head and wags her tail. Give her cheeks a little scratch and she’ll turn toward your hand to ask for more. When you tell her just how sweet she is, she’ll respond with puppy babble that sounds just like she’s talking to you. She loves her squeaky toy, and when you make it squeak, she’ll turn her head toward the sound. When you put the toy in her mouth, she’ll make crunching sounds like she’s chewing it. This soft, adorable robotic toy pup is about 14″ tall, and you can pose her so she’s sitting or lying down. Either way, she will always be puppy cute. Why We Like It:At one point or another a child asks for a puppy. But real puppies make messes and require a lot of time that many people don’t have. Or perhaps you already have a puppy, but you want a special “all her own” for your daughter; Cookie can be just that. She is so life like that she is a close second when a real pup just can’t be had. |
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Truck Smokey the Fire Truck: All little boys love fire trucks and when you combine robotic moves in to it, you have a recipe for success. Smokey the Fire Truck is a real working fire truck, brought to life. This interactive toy talks, tells laugh stitching jokes, eats, exercises and sings. When he is in truck mode, he can be rolled to activate his lights and sounds. Once he has reached the location of the fire, load him with “water” cannons to help put out the blaze. Why We Like It:This is a perfect first robot for boys; his interaction makes inventive play easy, something all children need to help them grow and develop. With over ninety phrases, kids will never get bored hearing the same thing over and over again and Smokey’s silly songs invite sing-a-longs with their new friend. |
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Homanoid Robot Robosapien: Called a “Star Wars Storm Trooper on steroids” Robosapien is one the best robotic toys that combines technology with personality. He is a completely interactive robot that stands over a foot tall and shines in his armor suit. He reacts to touch, can pick up or kick, reacts to sounds, and is controlled by the user. Developed by a former NASA engineer, Robosapien is a fun robot that even knows six different Kung Fu moves that will leave kids in laughter. Why We Like It:We love anything that kids consider the best toy in their toy chest and this one is sure to be that one. Boys love controlling their devices and this robot is all about doing what it is commanded to do. With two different speeds and fluent moves, Robosapien is as one of a kind as his looks. |
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Cat FurReal Friends Lulu: Lulu is an interactive life like Kitty that your child will fall in love with. Kitty Lulu purrs, meows, washes her face with her paws and rolls on to her tummy for a belly rub. She even has motion sensors and will meow or purr when you walk by her (this feature can be turned off it is bothersome) Her fur is silky soft, just like a real kittens, and the best part; no allergies to worry about! Lulu is a completely interactive kitten that children, big and small, will fall in love with. Have a child asking for a cat but you can’t get the real kind? The FurReal Lulu is the next best thing! She even comes with a comb for grooming and a special adoption certificate! Why We Like It:Real cats can be a hardship for busy families but Lulu is happy to be left alone whenever she needs to be. She doesn’t shed and no allergies to worry about make her a FurReal cat that is the next best thing to a very real cat. Lulu will quickly become part of the family and loved by all! |
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Vacuum Roomba: The Roomba is a super robotic cleaning machine. While not exactly a toy, it is definitely one of the top robots available today. The Roomba is a miniature robotic vacuum cleaner that can go places your upright just can’t. Patented sensors on Roomba allow her to quickly detect the dirty spots in your home to seek and clean. She can also be programmed to do an “all over” clean so that any hidden fur, dirt or dust is found and eradicated. The Roomba features special hempa filters to keep your home’s air as pure as possible. A great gift for any adult in your life who could use a cleaning sidekick! Why We Like It:The Roomba is like a live in maid! She can be programmed to clean while you are away from the house and she seeks out dirt, dust and fur that you can’t even see. When set to MAX, Roomba scoots around the home, avoiding obstacles with her sensors, goes under furniture and around freestanding objects. The Roomba is a thoughtful gift for the overly busy person in your life. |
It’s sometimes hard to decide if a robot will be too challenging to work, too boring in its interaction or too advanced for your child. That’s why we researched the best of the best for you and compiled them in one place. We hope that you found one that will be perfect for your child and that he enjoys it for years to come.
