9 Best Robot Toys for Preschoolers, According to Parents and Experts
Robot toys have come a long way since the 90s cassette player 2-XL many of us grew up with. Robots can inspire science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning while still being loads of fun for littles. “Robot toys help children see how things work,” explains Daniel Ganjian, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “And it’s nice to get kids to have some understanding of how they have control of the way things function.”
But with all the beeps, bells and whistles, it can be hard to know which one is right for our 5 and unders. From coding robots to plush toys and everything in between, we’ve got options for your 3-5 year old to keep them engaged and learning for hours.
Here are the steps we took to help you find toddler robot toys equipped for hours of fun, learning and playtime:
- We consulted with a pediatrician for recommendations on safety features to be mindful of in these toys.
- We leveraged our first-hand experiences of playing with robot toys with the toddlers and preschoolers in our lives.
- To find the best possible options, we combed through the most popular robot toys on the market and narrowed the field based on elements like interactive features, size of pieces, age appropriateness and, of course, fun.
- Reviews from parents were considered as well to ensure we had the best view of how these toys perform across a range of households, and we never considered anything less than an average four-star rating.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read more about how The Bump develops our product reviews.
Best interactive robot toy for 3-year-olds
- Follows voice commands like a real dog
- Remote is easy to operate
- Choose from blue or pink accents to suit your kiddo’s tastes
- Remote could get misplaced
- Requires some learning to get up to speed
The Top Race Robot Dog is a good option for pet-loving 3-year-olds (particularly if you want to see how they’ll do with a dog, ya know?) Catch this robot pup on wheels with a wide range of life-like movements built in, including sitting, walking, dancing and bowing. The toy can even mimic the sounds of 10 different animals and obey 12 voice commands, helping your toddler get to grips with their communication skills. They can also get to work on early logic skills by programming their own commands and custom sequences. Plus, it comes with a remote with large buttons and a tapered design that little fingers can easily grip and operate. And when not flexing their blossoming coding skills, the robot dog toy’s responsiveness to touch offers a sweet chance to explore caregiving through pretend play.
Age range: 3+ years | Dimensions: 10.9" (L) x 7.5" (W) x 13.5" (H) | Batteries Required: Y
Best gesture and remote control robot for preschoolers
- Programmable motion commands teach coding and logic
- Music and dance aspect will engage children even more
- Available in two different colors
- Remote may be misplaced
- Shorter battery life
The SGILE RC robot offers a lot of features to create an interactive friend. This robot allows little ones to give gesture commands to move it forward, backward, left and right. It also accepts up to 50 programmable motion commands delivered via remote. The toy walks, sings and dances, and even has a “patrol” function where it can move around obstacles, so it’ll sidestep your coffee table. And when it comes to battery life, you’ll have about an hour before it needs a recharge with the included USB cable. After about two hours, it’s ready to play again!
Age range: 3+ years | Dimensions: 6.3" (L) x 3.1" (W) x 10.4" (H) | Batteries required: Y
Best robot car toy for toddlers
- Fast and easy to control
- Car can be used inside or outside
- 6 colors to choose from
- Fosters creative play
- Needs a lot of batteries
For a jaw-dropping transformation that’s sure to make your little one squeal with wonder, this cool robot toy switches from action robot to race car in one push of a button. In car mode, the wheels spin fast, zooming around indoors or outdoors via remote control, while its robot form opens the door to pretend play. Designed to let your kiddo’s imagination run wild as they act out fun scenarios, this transforming toy will keep them engaged for as long as the batteries allow.
Age range: 3-5 years | Dimensions: 4” (W) x 9” (L) x 2.3” (H) | Batteries required: Y
Best low-sensory robot toy
- Sweet design
- Easy to carry
- No detachable pieces, lights or sounds
- May not be exciting enough for some
- Must be spot cleaned
Robots aren’t known for being the cuddliest toys around, but the Bedtime Originals Robbie the Robot is a plush version that little ones can snuggle with. This toy is covered in soft velour with embroidered details, so you don’t have to worry about your little one getting scratched by a hard piece in the night. It also doesn’t have detachable buttons or other elements that can fall off and create a choking hazard. And with no lights or sounds, it’s perfect for robot-lovers who need a low-sensory option. At 16 inches tall, the plush robot is large enough to wow toddlers without being so large that it’s intimidating.
Age range: All ages | Dimensions: 10.2" (L) x 3.9" (W) x 16" (H) | Batteries required: N
Best smart robot for 5-year-olds
- Builds language and social-emotional learning skills
- Adaptive learning grows with your child
- Enhanced data encryption for your child’s safety
- 8 languages to choose from
- A lot of content is behind a paywall
- The screen experience may feel phone-like for some families
Balancing STEAM-focused tech with an adorable, expressive face, Miko 3 is a smart pick for 5-year-olds ready for something a little more interactive on their way to kindergarten. Its adaptive software uses the wide-angle HD camera and dual microphones to learn your kiddo’s cues over time, helping them build valuable language and social-emotional learning skills. Not to mention giving them encouraging feedback or a well-timed joke.
With games built-in to the high-resolution display screen plus content pulled from Disney and Paramount, there’s no app needed for kids to get the full extent of this robot. But don’t worry about parent guilt from adding another screen into your kiddo’s world. The Miko 3 encourages dancing, freeze tag, yoga and other fun activities to get your little one up and moving. You’ll also have access to the Parent App, allowing you to set break times, track their learning progress and even snag a little 1:1 time when you’re away from home.
Age range: 5-12 years | Dimensions: 7.48"L x 6.67"W x 9.8"H | Batteries required: N
Best robot building kit for toddlers
- Builds STEM skills
- Variety of parts allows kids to use their imagination
- Wide assembly options
- Storage container not included
- Can only make one robot at a time
Foster your toddler’s engineering and creativity skills with this Learning Resources kit that allows them to build (and rebuild) whatever robot they can think up! This kit is a great way to let little minds start figuring out how things work while working on fine motor skills. It features 18 pieces that can be assembled in a variety of ways to create moveable robot friends. The pieces are small enough for tiny hands to easily hold and maneuver without presenting a choking hazard. They also work with other 1-2-3 Build It! sets, so you can mix and match pieces to make even more creations.
Age range: 2+ years | Dimensions: 10" (L) x 9" (W) x 4.2" (H) | Batteries required: N
Best screen-free interactive robot for preschoolers
- Builds language and storytelling skills
- Gives an introduction to coding in a fun, engaging way
- Understands 10 languages
- Compatible with Lego blocks, allowing for customization
- Expensive
- Takes time to learn all the functions
The Matatalab TaleBot Pro is an adorable screen-free robot that helps your child build storytelling skills while exploring the basics of coding. The robot responds to commands that teach it to walk, sing, dance, speak and draw. The toy even records your kiddo’s voice on demand so they can create imaginative stories of their own. It can learn up to 256 commands, including sequences and loops. TaleBot’s buttons are located on the robot’s head, so there’s no need to stress about losing important pieces. And this robot is compatible with Lego blocks so your little dreamer can build a creative robot that suits their taste.
Age range: 3+ years | Dimensions: 8" (L) x 8" (W) x 2.9" (H) | Batteries required: N
Best robot toy for learning the ABCs
- Encourages active learning
- Made from BPA-free plastic
- Letters and pieces can be used separately or together
- Lots of parts and pieces, and no storage container included
- Some letters are harder to transform than others
Robots are naturally interactive, and this learning robot toy helps kids with their ABCs while encouraging play. The Joyin Alphabet toys are each shaped like a different letter, but morph into robots with a few twists and turns. The letters are petite, but not so small that they create a choking hazard. We especially love that the letter robots can be combined to make three larger toys, giving kids even more options for play.
Age range: 3+ years | Dimensions (each robot): 2" (L) x 2" (W) x 0.8" (H) | Batteries required: N
Best budget-friendly robot for practicing fine motor skills
- Inexpensive
- Working screwdrivers provide fine motor skill practice
- Includes stickers so little ones can get creative and make the robot their own
- Available in green and pink
- Pieces can get lost
- Stickers may not line up perfectly
Ranging from $13-$17, this drillable robot is a steal. Your kiddo can construct, deconstruct, and rebuild the robot with the help of included oversized screws and a kid-friendly screwdriver that actually work the same way real screwdrivers do. The robot encourages hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills through drilling and allows little ones to mix and match screw colors to design the look of their robot as they see fit.
Age range: 3+ years | Dimensions: 6.3" (L) x 3.8" (W) x 10" (H) | Batteries required: N
With kiddos under age 5, you might be wondering if a robot toy is worth it. We’ve all seen our little ones get tired of an expensive toy after a few minutes of play or get frustrated when they don’t understand a toy that’s a bit outside of their developmental stage. But robots can be really engaging and educational, even for the littlest of tots.
“Children can take away a lot from playing with a robot toy,” says Daniel Ganjian, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “For preschoolers, toy robots can help with fine motor development and problem-solving skills.” There’s a range of robot toys that require little hands to build, screw and snap pieces in, enabling them to build fine motor skills while forcing the brain to think logically.
Ganjian says parents can even use robot toys to help children with emotional regulation. A robot that focuses on language or coding skills is great for developing problem-solving and STEM skills. Storytelling robots or robots that listen and adapt to your child can help with social-emotional learning. “It’s a great lesson to teach kids: You can control your robot, and you can also control yourself,” he adds.
There are tons of robots on the market. Many of them are geared toward older kids, but there are many designed for toddlers and preschoolers. To find the perfect fit for your little one, consider what outcome you want them to get out of the toy. Do you want them to build logic or work on their STEM skills? Are imaginative play and creativity more important to you? Maybe you’re looking for something that helps them build language skills or better understand relationships. There’s a robot toy for every personality and developmental stage.
And of course, safety is always an important consideration with toys. We consulted with Ganjian to help us build a list of considerations so you can get a robot that’s fun and engaging as well as safe for your child. As you shop, look for the following:
- Larger pieces. Robot toys with small pieces can become choking hazards for younger children, and little siblings, Ganjian says. Make sure to pick out robot toys with larger pieces to avoid any accidents.
- Simplicity. “You don’t necessarily want one with all the bells and whistles,” says Ganjian. “Sometimes the simpler, the better. Kids may have too much stimulation.”
- Ease of use. Robot toys should be relatively easy to maneuver and not have creases that can pinch little fingers, notes Ganjian. You also want something children can learn to use fairly quickly—otherwise, they may get frustrated.
- Interactivity. Some robot toys require a child’s imagination; others have unique movements and skills. Certain robot toys even encourage children to build and redesign them. Ganjian says that all styles are great—just keep your child’s interests and individual skill sets in mind.
About the writer:
Michelle Sabia, MPH, CPH, is a public health professional, health educator and mom of 2. With nearly 15 years of experience, she has focused her career on designing and implementing women’s health education programs. Having experienced several complications in pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, Michelle is a fierce advocate for maternal health and maternal mental health. She brings her personal and professional experience to her writing, where she aims to support all parents through the new, chaotic chapter in their lives.
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Daniel Ganjian, MD, is a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. He received a Bachelor's degree with highest honors from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a medical degree from the University of California, Irvine.
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