Shopping for robotic pet toys

These clever robotic toys are designed to interact with your child in a variety of different ways while teaching about animal care, STEM robotics and even engineering. With many robotic pets offering the soft cuddles of a favorite stuffed animal, this group of toys has something for all ages, from toddlers to teens.

Bridging the gap between learning and play, the toys in our robotic pet collection offer a variety of different features. From pets that grow, develop and move to pets that can be coded, programmed or built, we've gathered some of our favorite features in each category below with our recommendations for the best type of robot by age.

• Robotic pets that grow: The toys in this group can hatch from eggs or grow digitally on a screen and require a child to care for them to reach their full potential. Often your child can teach these robotic pets to perform special tricks or communicate with electronic peeps or barks. Many pets in this category are built of soft, plush materials and encourage cuddles and petting to help them grow. Preschool and young school-age children love to be able to care for their pets and see the results of their hard work with robotic pets in this category.
• Robotic pets that move: If your child prefers a playful robotic pet, browse our selection of pets that move. Often controlled with a remote, these robots can move around your home at the touch of a button and often can respond to commands to sit or stand, much like a real pet. Moving robotic pets for younger children are likely to include an attached hand-held control to guide the pet around the floor, while pets designed for older children might include detached remote controls with more advanced buttons and commands. This category of robotic pets can easily grow with your child's abilities and interests over time and engage a variety of different ages in a family.
• Robotic pets that your child can program: A step more advanced than robotic pets that move with remote control, your child can program these types of pets to perform more advanced tasks. This additional level of control is best suited to school-age children and above and is perfect for use in classrooms and during team activities. With an included remote or through an integrated app-based system, these programmable pets use basic computer programming principles to guide your child through the creation of their own customized pet. When complete, the robot may be able to maneuver through a maze, reach a target or even speak a phrase. Choose a programmable pet for a child who enjoys using logic to solve problems and complete challenges.
• Robotic pets that your child can build: If you're shopping for a child who prefers to build rather than snuggle with their robot, this category of pets that they can build is the perfect starting point. These robotic pets encourage tinkering with bolts and screws to allow your child to build their own pet robot from scratch. Typically packed in large, coordinated sets, these products contain enough metal or formed plastic pieces to build a moving robot of your child's own design and often can expand into new creatures with the purchase of additional sets. Look for sets that include remote controls or offer the ability to program the pet's movements.

Once you've chosen the type of robotic pet you're shopping for, use our easy website controls to sort and refine your search results. On the left side of the page, check the box next to the your preferred brand, your child's age or the price range of the pet you're browsing for. Each of these checks will refine your search results to include only those products that meet your criteria. Then, use the sorting controls at the top of the website to display the products by low to high or high to low price or our newest products. If you'd like to be able to pick up your product in store today, mark the circle by "Free Pickup Today" or sort your results by store availability. Or use our 2-day shipping option to have your new robotic pet quickly delivered to your home.