Goldie Blox. 4 – 10 years. Darling of the TED set, the Goldie Blox line features girl characters in storybooks pursuing engineering adventures. Kids then act it all out with accompanying construction kits that take their cues from events in the narrative, like building a dunk tank, spinning machine, or parade float. Launched by an enthusiastic Kickstarter response, Goldie Blox toys are designed to bring out girls’ inner engineer, so thoroughly ignored by the “pink aisle” of the toy store full of princesses and dolls. Some people complain about the build quality; many more find them engaging and fun.
Robot Turtles. 4 and up. Another Kickstarter success story, this board game sneaks the logic of computer programming into the action. Using code cards to direct the movements of turtles on the game board, players have to decide the best way to get where they’re going, navigate obstacles on the way, and undo mistakes by retracing their steps. ThinkFun, the manufacturer, offers supporting educational content related to computer programming and more-advanced game resources on its website. As kids get older, they can execute more complex “programming” commands and gain exposure to the logic that connects the game to real-life computer coding.