STEM education has become a crucial part of modern learning, helping children develop problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and creativity through hands-on experiences. Platforms like LEGO Mindstorms and Scratch programming have made coding more accessible to young learners, offering interactive ways to understand programming concepts. While Scratch allows kids to drag and drop coding blocks on a screen to create programs, the same idea is now being applied to the hardware level with DrBartha Toys. This innovative project transforms coding into a tangible experience by letting children build programs using smart, magnetic blocks that interconnect to create more complex projects.
DrBartha Toys, developed by Denes Bartha, a data scientist and entrepreneur from Singapore, introduces a unique way for kids as young as four to explore coding. Unlike traditional programming tools that rely on screens, DrBartha Toys brings coding into the real world through software-enabled bricks. Each block represents a coding instruction, such as loops, conditionals, or variables. As children stack these blocks together, they form an actual program, making coding more intuitive and engaging. The smart bricks include built-in RGB LEDs and microchips, providing visual feedback when instructions are executed. This hands-on approach makes learning programming as simple as building with blocks, helping kids grasp logical structures without needing prior experience.
At the core of DrBartha Toys is the CodePad, a device that acts as the system’s brain. Once a sequence of bricks is completed, it is placed on the CodePad, where children can see their program come to life. The CodePad features a screen and buttons, allowing kids to navigate menus and test their creations. One of the key aspects of this system is real-time coding—children can easily modify their programs by adding, removing, or rearranging blocks, instantly seeing the results. This interactive process encourages experimentation and debugging, turning programming into a fun, creative challenge. Additionally, the system supports game creation, where children can program characters to complete tasks, automate actions, and solve puzzles.
DrBartha Toys is currently live on Kickstarter, aiming to bring this innovative learning experience to families and schools worldwide. The project offers a Starter Kit that includes a CodePad and 40 instruction bricks, covering key programming concepts like loops, functions, and conditionals. Future expansions will introduce more advanced kits tailored for different age groups and skill levels. Supporters
