Thames and Kosmos Andy: The Code & Play Robot
Educational & STEM Toys
View on AmazonOur Take
Andy The Code & Play Robot: A hands-on introductory robotics kit from Thames & Kosmos aimed at children aged 4 and up, designed to teach basic engineering and robot-building concepts through guided experiments. It sits at the gentler, pre-programming end of the STEM toy market — no screens or code involved — making it one of the more accessible entry points into robotics for very young children.
Key Features
Control Andy's movements by pushing the big, intuitive buttons on its head;
Accompanied by a full-colour illustrated experiment book guiding children through each build step by step
Focuses on mechanical concepts such as gears, motion and structure rather than electronics or coding
Sized and designed for small hands, with chunky, easy to use buttons
Part of Thames & Kosmos' broader "Kids First" range, which maintains a consistent age-appropriate difficulty level
Adult co-play is encouraged, making it suitable for parent-child activity sessions
Our Verdict
Best suited to curious 4–6 year olds being introduced to programming, particularly when an adult is involved. Families expecting flashing lights, motors, or any form of hands on coding should look at Thames & Kosmos' older-age kits or rival brands such as Lego Technic Junior instead.