ABSTRACT
There are currently four programmable toys appropriate for use in the Early Years or primary classroom: Roamer, Pip and Pixie and Bee-Bot. They all perform a similar function by allowing the children to type in a series of instructions which the toy carries out. Most programmable toys operate in similar ways. There is a set of buttons on the back of the toy which are pressed to instruct the toy. Programmable toys tend to drain their batteries quite quickly as power is needed for driving the motors as well as powering the electronic memory. Programmable toys are highlighted specifically in the Early Learning Goals in the information and communication technology strand for 'Knowledge and understanding of the world'. The programmable toy enables the children to associate movements with steps along a number line and hence to associate physical actions with numerals and direction with number operations.
