Why You Should Get Cody Block for Your Kids

Are you on the lookout for the perfect toy that sparks creativity and enhances learning for your little ones? Look no further! I’m introducing you into the world of Cody Block Toys—the innovative Swiss-made wooden STEM toy.

What’s not to love about an eco-friendly wooden STEM toy with a modern aesthetic? Cody Block is an innovative, engaging experience of pre-coding via a tangible programming language. With simple visual symbols, this will make a first coding experience of planning, sequencing, and direction accessible to children as young as 4 years old.

What is in the starter kit?

• Cody the car
• 5 Command Blocks
• 16 City Tiles
• a City Guide with instructions & stories

Use the City Guide to inspire your play or create your own adventures with Cody! We also got the U-Turn extension kit that makes Cody turn 180 degrees or use 2 blocks to do loops with the U-turn set. This set includes 2 U-turn, 1 Left turn and 1 Right turn blocks.

These beech wood blocks look like buildings, but each has a symbol relating to a command (turn left, turn right, U-turn, repeat the last command, stop, record path, play path). When kids put the magnetic top on the red car, it begins to drive. Using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, the car reads the commands on the blocks.

How can we learn STEM with wooden toys?

The most important preparation needed for hours of play is making sure that Cody the car is charged up! Place Cody and his house in a flat surface area, then set up the City Blocks to direct Cody along his path home. When the top of Cody is attached to his base, he will set off, following the directional sequence provided by the City Blocks. If placement isn’t quite right the first time, “debug” your code by moving the City Blocks to adjust Cody’s instructions.

Different words become relevant for children as they experience the concept of an algorithm (set of instructions) and sequence (specific order of tasks). Integrating the function blocks helps children experience this concept as a repeatable chunk of instructions. Build growth-mindset muscles and embrace debugging as expected part of the pre-coding process.

How does play with Cody Block encourage STEM thinking?

Breaking up a large task into smaller pieces takes practice. Even if they don’t quite understand the concepts of coding, it’s something that they can be exposed to at a young age, learning about sequences and algorithms subconsciously while just having a great time watching the cause and effect reaction of the car going when the top snaps onto the wheels.

Admittedly, with any new toy, it was a little difficult to figure out exactly how to make it move and change direction (myself included), but once you do it’s really cool. Especially when the Cody car comes to a full stop at the “home” block.

We love that you can easily stop and start driving by attaching or removing the top of the car. It’s rechargeable, no batteries!All parents know how important that is. At the moment, it has launched in the US and Germany and is available for purchase on amazon.com.

Conclusion

Teaching basic coding concepts to young kids is a challenge especially without involving a screen. But QUBS has come up with a smart solution. There’s a guidebook that includes stories and activities, but the best thing about this Montessori-inspired wooden toy is that kids can dive in and learn how it works through play.

It’s not just a toy for young kids, but for parents as well, figuring out ways to design intricate pathways, or adapting to a child moving blocks around, it’s all a ton of fun for the whole family.

I highly recommend checking out this new STEM toy by Qubs, the Cody Block is a fun, interactive way to learn STEM and keep your kids busy without a screen!