Makeblock

Parents who want a flexible robotics ecosystem rather than a single-purpose toy often land on Makeblock. This company produces programmable robots like mBot and Codey Rocky, plus a coding platform that supports block and text-based programming. Founded to bring maker-style STEM into classrooms and homes, Makeblock emphasizes modular parts, sensors, and add-ons that can grow with your learner. Families like that kits range from simple rolling bots to more advanced, Arduino-compatible sets, all supported by project ideas. It’s ideal for upper-elementary through middle school kids who enjoy building and tinkering. Some documentation and apps lean heavily on online updates and can feel a bit inconsistent across products, but core hardware is solid. Pro tip: pick one robot as a starting point, learn it well, and only then consider expansion packs so kids feel mastery instead of overwhelm.