Techie Toy Gift Guide

Explore this exciting collection of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) toys and kits that feature tactile elements, audio guided activities, and other accessible elements, making them a great fit for children with visual impairments.We have gathered this selection to highlight options that foster hands-on learning and creativity. As always, use your best judgment to ensure the recommended age levels align with your child's developmental needs.

Code-a-pillar

Code-a-Pillar, a new STEM toy, inspires young students to develop critical thinking skills through a hands-on robotic caterpillar. Get kids coding on the go with this playful caterpillar! Twist its segments to program movements, teaching sequencing, problem-solving, and troubleshooting along the way.Using straight, left and right segments, students arrange Code-a-Pillar's segments and watch the caterpillar move accordingly! Set up an obstacle course and add targets. Can you arrange Code-a-Pillar segments to avoid the obstacles and reach the target? Creating these simple routes provides opportunities for students to develop mini-programming concepts! This motivating game encourages 21st century skills such as problem-solving, planning and sequencing, reasoning and an introduction to coding concepts.

Price: $34.99
Manufacturer: Fisher Price
Age: 3 to 6 years
Product Page: Code-a-pillar
Features:

• Segments of the code-a-pillar have tactile symbols on top, but additional form stickers or textured tape can be added for additional support.
• Segments of the code-a-pillar light up as that direction is followed.
• The accompanying app is not accessible with VoiceOver, but the app is not necessary for game play.
• Physical manipulatives
• Sounds & Lights
• Incorporates use of directions (left, right, forward, back)

Learning Resources Botley the Activity Set

Meet Botley, the beeping robot that teaches coding while boosting critical thinking and problem-solving skills. With tactile buttons, tones, and a 77-piece activity set, Botley's perfect for visually impaired students and works screen-free!

Price: $50.56
Manufacturer: Learning Resources
Age: 5 to 8 years
Product Page: Botley
Features:

• With tactile buttons, tones, and a 77-piece activity set
• Visit Paths to technology Blog for tips on accessible game play

Learning Resources Code & Go Mouse Activity Set

Meet Colby, the speedy, light-up robot mouse! Program him with colorful buttons and coding cards, then create obstacle courses for him to find his cheese while learning coding basics, sequencing, and problem-solving.

Price: $106.34 from American Printing House (APH) toy + access kit
Manufacturer: Fisher Price
Age: 4 + years
Product Page: Code and go mouse
Features:

• Physical buttons and pieces to build Colby's course
• The access kit from APH comes with braille on the direction cards but you can add your own as well

Learning Resources Coding Critters Ranger & Zip

Meet Ranger and Zip, your playful coding critters! This 22-piece set turns coding into an adventure as kids guide their pet pals through fun, hands-on challenges.

Price: $35.07
Manufacturer: Learning Resources
Age: 4 + years
Product Page: Coding Critters
Features:

• Physical buttons and manipulatives to set up play environment
• Sounds and lights

Cubetto Educational Coding Robot

Cubetto is the Montessori-approved coding toy for children aged 3+, powered by a tangible programming language made of colorful blocks. Children guide
Cubetto through a series of maps and stories and learn the basics of computer programming and STEM skills without the use of a screen.

Price: $271
Manufacturer: Cubetto
Age: 3 + years
Product Page: Cubetto Coding Robot
Features:

• Physical wooden blocks for coding
• Different shapes and colors for each different type of action

Cubelets

Cubelets are unique robot blocks that teach problem-solving skills like collaboration, engineering, and computational thinking. By combining 17 different types of Cubelets, you can create countless robot constructions, each made up of smaller robots. It all begins by using the three basic categories of Cubelets to build innovative designs.

Price: $225
Manufacturer: Modular Robotics
Age: 4 + years
Product Page: Cubelets
Features:

• Physical manipulatives
• Blocks that light up in bright colors

Light Stacks

Construction blocks using LED light technology that spark creativity, innovation, and imaginative play. Blocks can either be purchased as a set of 36 or 102 pieces.

Price: $24.99 for 24 pieces | $38.24 for 36 pieces | $79.99 for 102 pieces
Manufacturer: Innovational Building Blocks
Age: 3 to 8 years
Product Page: Light Stacks
Features:

• Visually stimulating
• Physical manipulatives
• Bright colors

Turn-A-Cube

A colorful twist on the classic Rubik's cube! Match shapes and colors on each side while boosting problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.

Price: $17.95
Manufacturer: The Braille Store
Age: 4 + years
Product Page: Turn-A-Cube
Features:

• Tactile Shapes
• High contrast colors

Bop-It

The Bop-it! Calls out commands that come faster and faster as the game goes on. When you hear a command, you need to "bop it, pull it, or twist it" to
stay in the game.

Price: $15.97 for Classic Bop-It | $26.99 for Bop-It! Extreme | $9.84 for Bop-It! Micro Series
Manufacturer: Hasbro Gaming
Age: 4 + years
Product Page: Bop-It!
Features:

• Allows for multi-player game play
• Auditory instructions and commands
• Physical manipulatives easy for tactile differentiating

Snap Circuits JR

Snap Circuits Jr. 130 Access Kit makes learning electronics fun and accessible for children 8 and up, including blind and visually impaired students. With 130 projects and easy-to-snap parts, kids can explore circuits, switches, and motors while building creations that light up and make sounds. Exclusive to APH, the kit includes braille-labeled parts and large-print instructions, empowering all students to discover the world of electronics.

Price: $121
Manufacturer: APH
Age: 8 + years
Product Page: Snap Circuits Jr
Features:

• Braille and large print
• Mainstream toy
• Physical manipulatives with lights and sounds

Snapino Access Kit

Calling all aspiring programmers! Snapino, a commercially available product, has been made accessible for students who are blind and visually impaired.
Snapino is an introduction to the open-source Arduino hardware-software coding environment. Create circuits, various types of lights, distance sensors,
switches, and more!

Price: $89
Manufacturer: APH
Age: 12 + years
Product Page: Snapino Access Kit
Features:

• Braille and large print
• Mainstream toy
• Physical manipulatives with lights and sounds

Bric: Structures Access Kit

The Bric: Structures Access Kit lets kids unleash their creativity by building 26 fun, electricity-powered projects! Combining regular building bricks with Snap Circuits, children can create exciting circuits and real-world structures. With easy-to-follow instructions, it's perfect for all ages. Pair it with other Snap Circuits kits like Snap Circuit Jr and RC Snap Rover for even more endless, hands-on fun!

Price: $59
Manufacturer: APH
Age: 8 + years
Product Page: Bric: Structures
Features:

• Braille and large print
• Mainstream toy
• Physical manipulatives with lights and sounds

RC Snap Rover Access Kit

The RC Snap Rover Access Kit lets kids build a remote-controlled rover that zooms across any surface using colorful Snap Circuits parts. It's a fun, hands-on way to learn electronics, with braille-labeled parts making it accessible for blind and visually impaired users. Combine it with other Snap Circuits kits for endless project possibilities!

Price: $109
Manufacturer: Learning Resources
Age: 8 + years
Product Page: RC Snap Rover Access Kit
Features:

• Braille and large print
• Mainstream toy
• Physical manipulatives with lights and sounds

Magna-Tiles

Magna-Tiles are magnetic building tiles that allow children to explore hands-on construction, promoting STEM skills such as spatial reasoning, geometry, and problem-solving. The tactile nature of the tile (featuring distinct shapes and edges) makes them particularly well-suited for children with visual impairments, as they can identify pieces by feel and experiment with different structures through touch. This encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and an understanding of basic engineering concepts in an accessible and engaging way.

Price: $49.99 for the 32 piece set | $119.99 for the 100 piece set
Manufacturer: Valtech
Age: 3 to 9 years
Product Page: Magna Tiles
Features:

• Tactilely distinguishable shapes
• Add-on kits and accessories

Simon Electronic Memory Game

The Simon Electronic Memory Game is a classic, light-up game that challenges players to remember and repeat sequences, fostering memory, attention, and cognitive skills. Its large, brightly colored buttons and distinctive sounds make it engaging for children with visual impairments, allowing them to follow the game’s patterns through sound and touch. This hands-on play strengthens memory recall, listening skills, and encourages concentration in a fun, interactive format.

Price: $29.99 for the 32 piece set | $119.99 for the 100 piece set
Manufacturer: Valtech
Age: 7 + years
Product Page: Simon Electronic Memory Game
Features:

• Physical buttons
• Bright contrasting colors
• Different auditory tones for each color

Dash Robot

The Dash Robot by Wonder Workshop is an engaging, hands-on tool that brings STEM learning to life through interactive coding and problem-solving activities. Equipped with voice commands and tactile, easy-to-use controls, Dash is accessible to students of all abilities, including those with visual impairments, helping them develop critical thinking and coding skills in a fun, inclusive way.

Price: $179.99
Manufacturer: Wonder Workshop
Age: 6 + years
Product Page: Dash Robot
Features:

• Compatible with the accessible Blocks4All app for IOS (not associated with Wonder Workshop)
• Auditory, tactile, and light elements