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
Buy now: Matatalab Pro Set
More Must-Reads From TIME
- What Student Photojournalists Saw at the Campus Protests
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Why Maternity Care Is Underpaid
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time