cubetto

Cubetto is a screenless educational robot designed to introduce young children to computational thinking and basic programming concepts without the use of a computer screen. It was developed by Primo Toys, a UK-based toy company, and was launched after a crowdfunding campaign that popularized tangible coding tools.

The system centers on a wooden cube robot placed on a large grid-like map. A set of color-coded tiles is used to compose a sequence of actions for the robot, typically including forwards movement and left or right turns. Children arrange the tiles on a control surface, which the robot interprets as a plan and then executes on the map.

Cubetto emphasizes storytelling and hands-on exploration. Each mission or activity presents a narrative goal, guiding learners through sequencing, prediction, and debugging as they adjust the tile sequence to achieve the desired outcome. The kit often includes a book and a travel map with themed environments to extend play and learning.

Educators and libraries have adopted Cubetto as an introductory tool for early coding education. Its screen-free approach supports collaborative learning and helps introduce computational thinking before literacy with code-based text interfaces.

As part of the broader movement toward tangible computing, Cubetto has influenced subsequent products that blend physical manipulatives with programming concepts for young learners.