Guest Author - Marie Stroughter

My son has been taking robotics for about a year now. The system they have been using in his class is the Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System 2.0. Though the box labels it as appropriate for ages 12 and up, it has successfully been used in robotics classes with children as young as six. The litmus test is really this: If the child is adequately supervised and can be taught to put each of the many, many very small pieces in its own place after playing, children at least six years of age should have no problem with it.

Pros:

* It inspires creativity! My son has made incredible robots that seek light, go away from light, bat a baseball and runs the bases afterward and many other very sophisticated things.

* It teaches basic science and engineering principles. The construction must be a sound one, meaning that it must balance and all pieces must bear the proper weight. My son learned very early on these very basic concepts!

* It teaches math and spacial concepts. You can program in angles and other measurements.

* It provides hours of entertainment

Cons:

* It does come with 718 pieces! You must have an organized repository for all the pieces. I bought a simple bin found in a hardware store (the ones that has little drawers for nails and bolts, etc.)

* It is pricey. I found it through a holiday promotion, plus I had a gift certificate. However, it is worth every penny.

* It requires the use of a computer for the more advanced programmable functions.

Overall: A sound buy for the money. It will give your child hours of enjoyment and is an educational tool in the process. The Lego.com website offers many wonderful activities for all of it's products and does have an educators corner with information on using the Mindstorms system in the classroom that can be adapted for home or homeschools.

Price: $199
Ages: 12+ (per the original box)