Can you teach a 5-year-old how to think like a computer programmer? The makers of the Matatalab Pro Set ($229) think so—and that kids can learn the basics of coding without ever looking at a screen. To program the Pro Set’s miniature robot, kids place small “coding blocks” that each represent a simple command—for example, a block illustrated with an arrow pointing to the left tells the robot to turn left—on the set’s control board. After stringing together a set of actions, they press the start button and watch the robot carry out the instructions. —Nadia Suleman
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