Sphero SPRK Edition: A Robotic Toy That Helps Kids Code & Have Fun + Giveaway!
Sphero SPRK Edition.
We already live in a digital world and in fact, we are headed towards a future where coding will be the common language. It will be just as important as reading and writing and our kids will be the ones to use it every day.
You know that we are big fans of Sphero, as we have tested out the Sphero Darkside and the Sphero Ollie in the past. The SPRK is one that we were very excited to try out simply because Sphero has turned the love kids have for their tech toys into love for learning and creation. That just cannot be beat.
What’s In the Box?
- Sphero SPRK Edition
- Inductive charging base
- Genuis kit with a protractor, notebook and pencil
- Quick Start guide to get you rolling problem free
- New Sphero SPRK app + free games available for download in the App Store, Google Play, and Windows Store
- Power Adapter (110V – 240V compatible, USA and International style plugs)
What Will You Create?
The SPRK app experience lets you give your robot the orders with visual blocks representing code – Sphero’s own C-based language called OVAL. You can save your own programs and go back to them at any time. Once you input the code, you will immediately see the connection between the program you and your child created and how the guts of your Sphero work and react. Sphero SPRK Edition will inspire a love of robotics, coding and STEM principles all through play. With ultra-bright LED’s you can change the color and the possibilities are endless.
Take a Peek Inside.
One of the most amazing things to see is how the inside of the Sphero SPRK works. Simply by inputting commands! Gabby came home from school one day and she told me about coding and that they had spent time coding games at school. She caught the bug and is obsessed with coding!
When she played with the SPRK, she was blown away! Not only can you code and use app to move it but, you can go freestyle just by flipping your device and just play! So, you have the best of both worlds. With its electric motor, it can go up to 4.5 MPS! The SPRK can move!
The Specs:
- iOS and Android Compatible
- Goes over 4.5 mph (2m/s) Durable polycarbonate shell
- Built-in LED glow Bluetooth connection (100 foot range)
- Inductive charging (over 1 hour of play on a full charge)
- Over 30 apps available that offer numerous ways to play
- Hackable and programmable internal robot
- App updates that introduce new features and gameplay
- Automatic firmware updates
Get the Family Involved.
We had a lot of fun learning code and in fact, Gabby was the one teaching us. Controlling it was pretty easy with the code, I think I had more trouble controlling it on freestyle. But, not to worry–it can handle the bumps with its polycarbonate shell. The SPRK is great for the whole family and it allows for creativity when it comes to creating programs for it. Gabby wants to teach Mimi too, although she is young she is eager to learn!
SPRK Lightning App.
Program your robot
- Download the Lightning Lab mobile app and program your robot utilizing block-based building.
- Save your work by creating an account and jump between the app and web platform.
- Share your programs with the community by making them public.
View and share activities
- Browse creative activities made by Sphero and educators around the world.
- Create your own and share it with the community.
- Examples of activities include light painting and mimicking planetary motion with your robots.
School Support
- Setup a virtual classroom with student logins and assign activities, track progress in real-time, and review student work.
- Sign-in to Lightning Lab with your Clever account (more sign on services will be available in the future).
- Create a private activity and administer it to your class without sharing it to the entire community.
You can get the app in the Apple store or Google Store.
The Perfect Toy for the Gadget Lover.
If you are looking for a toy to give to the child in your life this holiday season (or any time of the year), this one would be it. Most especially if they love gadgets and love to code. Even if they want to begin, it’s for any level and this not only makes learning fun but, effective.
It is also something they can learn at their own pace and still play with the robot on freestyle to take a break! Though, I think kids catch on very quickly and will be coding in no time! This is also a great gift for seasoned programmers, we know you are out there!
Ready to WIN?
One lucky Whispered Inspirations reader will WIN a Sphero 2.0 SPRK Edition robot! This contest is open to CANADA only and opens on December 16th, 2015 and closes on midnight on December 31st, 2015.
Get Connected!
For more information about the Sphero SPRK, visit www.sphero.com and connect with them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. They also have a thriving community that you can join, you can read more about it, here.
What do you like most about the Sphero SPRK?
Let me know, til then–cheers m’deres!
Nancy Polanco is a freelance journalist, lifestyle content creator, and editor of Whispered Inspirations. She is a proud Mom to Gabby and Michaela and partner and best friend to Darasak. Having worked as part of a health care team for almost a decade, Nancy is happy to be back to her passion. She is a contributor to the Huffington Post, TODAY’s Parents, and an Oprah Magazine Brand Ambassador.
This looks like a great little toy for kids of all ages, even the big ones! I would love to try this out and see how my son likes it.
It is a lot of fun!
This sounds like such a great gift idea for so many kids. I'm always trying to encourage my daughters to pursue interests in technology and science and this would be a wonderful gift for them!!
Girls can code too! 🙂 Hehe.
This is so cool! My nephew would love this. I like toys like this that promote learning and using new technology. I think it inspires creative thinking.
It sure does!
That is one crazy, cool looking toy! I think my cats would probably go nuts and try to attack it. lol But my son would definitely love to play with something like that.
LOL, I think the cats would have fun too!
My hubby is such a gadget guy this would be perfect for him!
I have to admit..at first glance it totally reminded me of a Star Wars Droid. LOL!!
Good luck everyone!!
LOL, they do make the Star Wars droid!
I like that it evolves!
I like the stay asleep buddies and the baliloca purse
It's tough! Sphero’s tough polycarbonate shell protects the advanced tech inside.
I like the Charlsea doll.
my kids would love this. to be able to code changes and then see it reflect those changes. What fun.
So much fun!
What a neat little toy! I love that companies are putting out more things for kids and the family that try to teach as well as entertain.
Yes, coding is the way of the future too!
I love that it's filled with LED lights and glows all the way around, lights spark imagination to me. So fitting for what this item is! I'm am wow-ed!
It is pretty amazing!
I like that you can pair Sphero to a Bluetooth-enabled device.
Pretty awesome, huh?
I like that it Sphero's intelligence can be hacked and programmed. This toy inspires learning how to code which I believe every child should know.
I agree!
My 11-year-old grandson has been taking coding lessons, so I know he would love this! I need to get him this. I've never seen it before.
My grandson is taking a coding class and this toy would be awesome to help him out and have fun at the same time. This is a great gift idea.
Coding is fun!
I love the Sphero. It looks like a really fun and entertaining toy! I know my son would love the Sphero.
The SPRK is a lot of fun!
Love that it is a fun toy that promotes learning, love that it teaches how to code which is becoming more important to learn.
you can program Sphero, that's pretty cool!
It's programmed to evolve! That is neat.
What i like best is that its able to code change and then see the results
I love the LED lights 🙂
I think it's a great way to get kids interested into robotics all through play!
neat
This is a greet gadget! I am sure that kids and adults will love this. Thanks for sharing!
I love Sphero’s tough polycarbonate shell protects the advanced tech inside.
i like that even i , a 50 something could use this for learning, thankyou for the chance lol
I really liked that it can be hacked and programmed! That is so cool
Would love to have this too. Looks awesome.
Sooo, I just sent the link to your post to my husband and he is currently combing through it in great detail. He is a programmer and since we have a daughter, I am sure he would love for her to follow in his footsteps. You’re right, with the impact that computers have had on our lives, coding with be like a second language … or it will become a necessity for everyone. This is awesome, checking into it more!
Haha, that is awesome. It would be cool to see what he thinks!
What a fun little gadget. I can see my kids having a blast with this. And the dogs trying to play fetch with it.
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I like that it has a tough outer shell. My boys can be rough so we need sturdy toys.
Jonnie
I love that it's got hackable and programmable — both my kiddos would enjoy learning code (i.e. being the boss of it!).
I do like that you can Pair Sphero to your Bluetooth-enabled device and you're good to go.
I like that it's durable and tough.
I love the fact it teaches kids about programming.
My granddaughter would love the Frozen Doll Set
I like that ALL SYSTEMS GLOW
Sphero's ultra-bright LEDs give you over a million colors to choose from. wow
I think this is a great Christmas gift for the entire family to have fun with. Neat how many light colours it has.
My oldest is really into technology and takes a tech class in Jr. High. This is a gadget that I could see being on her wish list. It seems the more I try to pull my kids away from technology, I'm constantly reminded that we live in a digital world and for them to succeed as an adult, technology is a part of their life and they will continue to use it daily.
The feature i like best is that you can program it
I am sure this will be a sure way to keep many entertained for a long time. I love the look of it
using the blue tooth device, such as phone would be fun.
I love that you can control it with your smart phone. I also love that it’s kind of educational to, but in a fun way.
I love the glow of the LED lights.
so many great features ..love the
All Systems Glow ultra-bright LEDs give you over a million colors to choose from.
Sphero is so futuristic! I love that it Pairs to a Bluetooth-enabled device!
The Holiday Gift guide has some great ideas – love the JORD watch!
I love that Sphero rolls up to 4.5 MPH.
I like how durable and tough it is.
My nephew is too young for it gadget but I think my god children would definitely love this toy. You're right the way technology is advancing coding will be everyday language for our children.
I've got an amazing engineer minded kid and i can see him loving this educational toy! What a great way to keep kids interested in STEM and have fun at the same time!
Love that it is filled with LED lights – just a neat feature.
I think the LED lights are pretty cool. Actually, the whole thing is. Love it!
The R2-D2 Interactive Robotic Droid really jumped out at me. I love it!
This seems like a cool and innovative product, fun!
I like that it is programmed to be able to evolve.
the Maple lea Doll jumps out at me, I like it is Canadian
This Sphero SPRK is indeed a really awesome gadget. I myself would not mind testing this out. It would be a great gift idea for my nephew. He loves robots and computer programs etc. so this is perfect for him. Thanks for the review.
I love that it can evolve!!!
I love that this is something that anyone of any age can have fun and engage with.
I like that it's Android compatible.
I love the charging system.
The fact that it evolves is cool. I know my techy nephew or my daughter would love this. The cats and dogs may be a little interested as well!
I love it! I really like that it has a million colors to choose from for the light.
I like that it has a good play time on a charge. Such a fun looking toy.
I like that you can program it.
I love that you can program t,what an awesome device
I think it is so cool!
love how it evolves, 🙂
The fact that it can go 4.5mph is another great feature.
I love that it is programmable.
It teaches about robotics!
R2 D2 pops out at me.
I like that Sphero's ultra-bright LEDs give you over a million colors to choose from
i like that its android compatible my boys would love this
That is so cool and look like lots of fun! I like everything about it! The feature I like the most is the led light!
I think it's a cool little toy, would be fun navigating it across bridges built with building toys.
I like that it has an hour of play after charging.
i like how it lights all up
Love that it teaches how to use code.
I love this robot and thinks its perfect for any age!
I like that you can code change.
I like that it has a tough polycarbonate shell protects the advanced tech inside.
Cool that it can code change
I like that this has an electronic motor to roll at 4.5 MPH. Great for my grandson to chase!
I like that you can get updates. ALways making it better.
I like that I could play with this just as my kids can.
I love how cool this toy is! So many kids would love to get this for Christmas! Never heard of it until now!
being able to code this thing, it's awesome, i love it
I love that it can be paired with a Bluetooth device.
I like that it promotes learning
Love the LED lights it has. This would be such a fun family toy.
The feature i like most is the LED lights
I love that it has an inductive charging base!
I like that Sphero sprk is PROGRAMMED TO EVOLVE
Sphero's intelligence can easily be hacked and programmed.
I like that it has a built in Bluetooth connection.
Love that you can program it. Such a fun toy!
I like it has New Sphero SPRK app you can download & design to your needs.
I love that the Sphero's ultra-bright LEDs give you over a million colors to choose from.
I love that this teaches while being entertaining as well.
I like the case and how tough it is.
Love that it helps to teach code which is becoming more important to learn these days.
Pretty cool that it's propelled by an electric motor !
I like that it can be programed
Love the LED lights that it has.
love the led lights it comes with.
I like that it is programmable. More play time for me.
Love that it can roll up to 4.5 MPH.
I like that it goes up to 4.5 mph per hour.
I like that it uses new technology and is blue tooth compatible.
One of the things like is that its a fun way to interest kids on robotics
I like that it's a toy that kids of all ages can use!!!
I think this would be great for the entire family to play with!
I love that it pairs with a Bluetooth-enabled device
I love that it’s interactive and the kids can learn code! This is so cool, my son would love it!
The feature i like most is that you can program it !
Love that has a good length of play time on a charge.
I like how tough it is the best.
I love that it is a learning toy. Learning to program will be a valued skill in our society and this is a great way to get kids excited about it.
My favourite feature is the hard outer shell. It is incredibly durable! We have the original Sphero and my son took it everywhere, the park, the bath! They are amazing!
I like that it has a polycarbonate shell to protect the advanced tech inside!
love how it evolves
I think the LED lights are a fun feature!
I love that it can evolve!
I like that it can evolve and teaches how to code.
It is awesome that it has a ultra-bright LED!
I like that it will evolve
I love the shell and how tough it is.
I love how it lights up
I just love how the case is clear so you can see everything inside!
I love that Sphero SPRK is both innovative & fun perfect fro my 6 & 9 yr old to play with
The feature i like best is that you can program it
Love many features about this – that it teaches code, the lights, battery life….everything!
I love the LED lights!!! Super awesome
I like that it has a tough polycarbonate shell
I like how tough the case is. It could take some use.
you can add it to a blue tooth
I love that it has a inductive charging base – that is very cool.
I like that it's programmed to evolve.
i like that it can be hacked and programmed
I like that is it programmed to evolve
love how you can code this thing, great fun for the entire family
Love that it helps to teach code which is important to learn today.
I love that the Sphero's intelligence can easily be hacked and programmed! So cool.
The feature i like best is its tough outer shell that protects its insides!
i like that it is propelled by an electric motor – rolling up to 4.5 MPH.