Family Review Center Gives Our 7 in 1 Rechargeable Solar Transformers Prestigious Gold Award

Read their full review here

DESCRIPTION: An innovative solar science kit that encourages children to exercise their sense of creativity and imagination. It features all snap together plastic parts (no screws, tools required), solar panel and accessories. It is incredibly easy to assemble the 7 different modules: 2 power charging stations and 5 different vehicles.

The transforming rechargeable station has 2 output plugs; one for solar recharging and the other for battery recharging. Amazingly, the battery charging station can bring the selected unit to full power in about 5 seconds and the solar recharging station will fully recharge in approximately 120 seconds. The fun time - run time is approximately 50-80 seconds.

Similar to OWI's other mini solar kits, if you have sun, you have power. Enjoy five different vehicles: Solar Car, Concept Car, Bulldozer, Dump Truck and Concept Racer (1.87"x1.74"x3.64"), Concept racer (1.02"x1.74"x4.18")

REVIEWER NOTES: With this kit you can create 5 different solar powered vehicles (one at a time). Comes with a power station that allows you to recharge the vehicles with sun or battery. It takes about 2 minutes to fully recharge it using solar power, and about 5 seconds using battery power. It will then run for about a minute to a minute and a half once fully charged. The 7 in 1 Rechargeable Solar Transformers are easy to snap together, so children will usually not need assistance from any adult but adults may want to supervise, just to get in on the fun!

This is a great way to introduce children to the power of solar energy. A simple way to explain it and see it in action. Our favorite was the Concept Racer. We would love to hear which one was your favorite, once you try them out!

Benefits of Robotics for Kids

Robotic education provides kids opportunities to learn core science concepts with a fun, active approach. One of the biggest challenges to teaching young students science is demonstrating these concepts in an engaging way. Robotic kits are designed to help kids learn how solar power works, how physics allow motion and how machines function with the correct commands from humans.

Assembling and experimenting with robotics is ideal for kinaesthetic learners of any age group. These are the students who have difficulty sitting at desks and reading or writing down word definitions or similar material. The ideas have little meaning for these learners unless they get to put them into practice. For example, building and manipulating hands-on projects. Building with robotic kits benefits these kids by connecting science and technology concepts to real-world applications.

Robotics for Kids in Practice and Research

Kids who begin learning robotics early, often develop more confidence in themselves and positive attitudes towards taking on challenging tasks, whether in science or other areas. Some research indicates that young learners who work independently on basic robotics kit projects, strengthen their abilities to follow detailed instructions. They can also improve their problem solving skills over time by completing a series of robotic kits that gradually increase in difficulty. Not every kid may move on to become a dedicated hobbyist who creates original mechanical projects, but all of them can benefit from the skills they will learn with educational robotic kits.

Some other useful concepts kids will learn from robotics include how tools and machine parts work together. Each robotic kit comes with prefabricated parts that need to be fitted together in a specific way for the entire project to work correctly. Working with robotic components and required tools may take practice and will probably not go smoothly the very first time, but these kinds of tasks are instrumental in helping kids develop patience, dedication and persistence.

Robotic Kits Available for Kids

Available kits range from simple to complex and many kids with no previous experience can put together beginning projects successfully. The complexity and difficulty of any finished device depends on the end results. Putting together a solar-powered set of model-sized vehicles will foster understanding of how the included solar panels convert sunlight to energy. The same type of robotic kit also allows for individual creativity. One popular example is the beginner level 7-in-1 Rechargeable Solar Transformers.

Another kit that lets kids put educational robots into action is the 3-in-1 All Terrain Robot. The finished robot can move in multiple directions with the use of a wired remote control. Finishing and experimenting with this robotic project is a fun way for kids to learn the basics of motion dynamics. This type of project also encourages development of hand-eye coordination.

A more advanced kit for young robot enthusiasts is the Weasel, a robot with plenty of high-tech features. The completed Weasel comes fitted with a photo sensor, can navigate its way around a line and has a wall sensor!

Each of these robotic kits demonstrates the potential of educational robotics as either a supplement or an addition to a standard science curriculum. Completing these hands-on projects builds both concept understanding and reinforces kids' confidence in their own abilities. Other benefits include improved problem-solving skills and creative decision-making capabilities.

Research in Education Robotics for Kids

As technology moves forward by leaps and bounds, the educational needs of our children must change. Science and technology have become integral in our daily lifestyles, and as a result, there is more of a need than ever for children to be exposed to concepts and ideas that can make them competitive in the global economy. One area that is certain to see more growth is robotics. Below are some of the way that robotics can be essential to your child's education.

Benefits of Robotics for Kids

Research in education robotics for kids, show that children who have exposure to robotics tend to do better in the fields of science, technology engineering and math (STEM). These fields are more important than every globally, and their importance will not be lessening any time soon. Research in robotics education for kids, show that if you want your child to be a viable part of tomorrow's economy, STEM skills are invaluable.

• Robotics help to foster creativity and problem-solving skills. There are countless applications of robot technology at play in the modern world. They all share one thing in common: they all provide a solution to an existing problem. Whether they robotics are used on a factory assembly line, or in a hospital operating room, or a NASA lab, robots provide creative solutions that augment our human abilities. Research in education robotics for kids, show that early exposure helps to foster technical creativity when faced with problems.
• Exposure to robotics helps to build confidence. Nothing inspires like a completed task. Kids everywhere love being presented with challenges, and they love meeting and exceeding expectations. Robotic technology allows kids to identify problems and develop ideas to fix them, and then build the conceived solution. In a world that can often leave people with little to no autonomy, this is unbelievably empowering for anyone, especially a child.
• Research in robotic education for kids show that robotics classes help foster stronger peer grouping in the classroom. Collaborative projects and group research help strengthen children's social bonds and identity. Spending time working with peers to create and develop solutions to real-world issues, help children find their voice - and helps to develop the compassion to hear the voice of others. 

Stronger peer connections, empowerment through problem-solving, creativity, and more career options - robotics technology can enrich your child's life in many ways. Don't get blinded by the research in education robotics for kids, though. Above all else, robotics are fun for everyone!

Robotics for Kids in Practice and Research

Research in robotic education for kids makes it apparent that the next area of growth in the field is developing a new generation of research scientists that are comfortable with robotics as a concept. The availability of affordable and effective robotic tools for children makes the development of the scientists of tomorrow that much easier.

Robotic Kits Available for Kids

Thankfully, there are so many option available that offers a wide variety of robotic sets for kids. We offer several sets for kids that fit virtually any temperament and interest level. Solar-powered robots, transforming robots, 3-in-1 multi-part kits or robotic insects. At OWI Robotics, we try and help foster the scientists of tomorrow!

Contact us now at OWI Robotics for more information about robotics for kids!