A new toy, the Code-A-Pillar teaches basic coding to toddlers and expanding those problem-solving skills very early on. How early? Preschool.
At the CES 2016, toy company Fisher-Price has unveiled their latest creation: the Think & Learn Code-A-Pillar. It’s essentially the ultimate toy to tackle coding for children who are not even potty trained yet. The lessons are hidden within the adorable exterior of a caterpillar, with clever ways of introducing toddlers into the essence of coding.
Toy for 2035 coders
Branded as the ‘toy for 2035 coders’, the Code-A-Pillar is aimed to start the training very early, and remove the need for an actual tablet that will be easily breakable by a young child. Instead, it will take on similar tasks, but in a fun way. Each section of the caterpillar corresponds to a particular function. The child would have to assemble it in a specific way for the needed result.
Any changes in sequence will make the toy move in a different way. This will aid in basic understanding of technology and aid in developing problem-solving skills. The adorable Code-A-Pillar promotes a way for toddlers to understand the basic commands. By the time they’re old enough to manage a tablet, they’ll already have some knowledge on the subject.
However, Fisher-Price will not be leaving it as a basic toys. Like any good program out there, it has expansions which will bring forward new functions for the child to learn. At an additional cost. So, it also appears to be teaching the children the concept of DLCs for videogames very early on. If they will be interested in gaming, they will learn it sooner or later.
$50 for the toy, plus $15 for each expansion
According to a spokesperson for the company, Amber Pietrobono, the Code-A-Pillar will be available in stores in July of this year for $50. Each additional expansion will cost $15, which will offer a better variation in functions. The cute toy will perform different tricks, and it become more of a challenge once the toddler learns all the symbols. It’s a way to keep them learning.
The toy will be accompanied by a companion app available for iOS and Android devices. It could be a useful tool for parents to teach their children how to distinguish colors or learn how to count. Beyond it, there are ample of challenging programming problems that will teach the child basic knowledge of coding. Given where technology is heading, it might be needed.
More information on the Code-A-Pillar will become available at the annual toy fair in New York City, between February 13th and February 16th of this year.
Image source: gizmodo.com
