New game teaches kids to code

Created by the company ThinkFun, Robot Turtles is a board game geared toward teaching youngsters how to code as early as 3 years old.

The company funded its project through Kickstarter, ending up with $630,000, truly surpassing the anticipated goal of $25,000. The force behind Robot Turtles' endeavor is former Google programmer Dan Shapiro. His idea started to incubate when he wanted to share the craft of coding with his two young daughters. Even though there are many computer-based teaching systems available for preschools, Shapiro wanted to create a traditional forum for the kids to learn to code, introducing a more old-fashioned approach to teaching a digital topic.

The game was strategically designed so that children can rapidly absorb the concept of coding. The game allows four players to play together. In the game, the child is the programmer and the adult is the “computer.” The user selects one of the four types of turtles (blue, purple, yellow, or red) with the matching jewel counterpart. The objects are placed onto different spots on the board.

For the turtle to get the jewel, the child has to direct, or write code, to maneuver the turtle around the board.  Each card has a particular direction written that the child lays down on the board; for example a left-hand card or a forward-step card. The adult follows the card’s cue, helping the turtle move along the board.  The child keeps placing cards down on the board to form a code sequence. If there are obstacles like walls in the turtle’s path, the child must draw cards with powers to move around the blockade.

The toy debuted at this week’s American International Toy Fair in NYC. ThinkFun is accepting preorders for $24.99 that will be shipped by June of this year. 

Story via Mashable