Micro Bit

Ages 8 and up A pocket-sized computer that makes code do something you can see and touch. The board carries its own LED grid, buttons and sensors for light, temperature, movement and magnetism, so a child's first program can be a step counter or a compass rather than text on a screen. Pins along the edge connect it to lamps, motors and simple circuits once that gets old. The big advantage over branded coding toys is the ladder: children start in Microsoft MakeCode's drag-and-drop blocks and move to real Python in the official editor, with no new hardware. It comes from a non-profit foundation, and a starter kit with a battery pack makes a better gift than the bare board.