Interested in robotics? Start here!
Below, the teens share recommendations for kids who might be interested in joining a robotics team. Their three biggest pieces of advice:
It’s totally fine to come in with no background in coding or engineering
Practice a “growth mindset” to help you take on new challenges and learn from mistakes
If you give STEM a try, you’ll find things you like—there’s something for everyone!
Programs to explore and skills to build
LEGO engineering kits—FIRST also offers LEGO Leagues that start as young as ages 4-6
Hummingbird robotics kits from BirdBrain Technologies—the Science Mill uses these for lots of programs!
Hopscotch coding app—good for learning the basics of programming with visual cues
Scratch coding platform—another good intro that lets you “build” with blocks of code
Codecademy—helpful for learning a specific programming language, like Java or Python
Work on your math skills—again, not a requirement, but they definitely help you decode what other teams did and breakdown challenges into solvable pieces
Try problem-solving activities to think like an engineer—no need for fancy equipment here! Identify a problem, brainstorm solutions, use cardboard and recyclables to prototype your idea, then keep testing and improving. (Hands-on problem-solving is also great for building grit and resilience.) Check out our Think like a Robot Inventor blog for more ideas.