15 Best Coding Gifts for Tweens in 2025 That Spark Creativity

This was one of the first coding games we tried, and honestly, I was surprised how much my son kept going back to it. It’s a single-player logic game with 120 challenge cards that gradually get tougher—and yes, even I got stuck on a few. It’s a clever way to sneak in programming principles like sequencing and conditional logic without needing a screen. Recommended for kids 10+ who like puzzles and figuring things out on their own.

This is a great one player game for children.

If your tween is already into Roblox, this is such an easy win. We used Codakid for homeschool coding, and I liked that it taught real Lua coding—not just dragging blocks around. The short, video-based lessons were a good fit for my son’s attention span, and the fact that he could build actual games inside Roblox Studio made it feel worthwhile. It’s great for kids who want to level up from just playing to creating.

This one’s a bit more of a project gift, which is great if your tween likes to build things and figure out how they work. The Neo robot introduces Scratch and Python, and I appreciated how it grew with him—starting with simple movements and eventually into coding real functions. You’ll need to set aside a little time to help them get started, but once they’re into it, it’s a solid combo of robotics and programming.

Total hit in our house. My son’s not even a huge Harry Potter fan, but the idea of waving a wand to control what’s on screen? Instant buy-in. It blends creativity with coding basics, and the step-by-step challenges felt like little spells he had to master. Great for kids who are imaginative and curious but not into traditional coding.

This one came after the wand and was just as engaging. Building the sensor was straightforward, but what really made it cool was using gestures to control actions on-screen. My son loved triggering lightsaber moves and pushing virtual objects using “the Force.” It’s coding through motion and imagination, and perfect for any tween who’s ever tried to move something with their mind.

If you are looking for more Star Wars educational activities check out our favorites that your tween will love.

If your kid enjoys logic puzzles, this one’s a winner. Code Master doesn’t feel like “coding” at first—but that’s what makes it work. My son treated it like a brain teaser game, but he was building real programming logic without even noticing. It’s great for quiet play, and perfect if you’re trying to reduce screen time but still want them practicing problem-solving. Works well solo and keeps them thinking.

I bought this one on a whim, not expecting much, but it totally surprised me. The build process was just the right level of challenging for a tween, and once it was up and running, the programming part added a whole new layer. You can make it light up, dance, and react to commands, which made it feel more like a pet than a robot. Definitely a hit if you have a unicorn-loving kid who’s also curious about how things work.

This one was a favorite for us because it combined two of my son’s interests—music and tech. You don’t need a music background to use it, but if your kid already plays an instrument, they’ll love turning code into songs. The tutorials were easy to follow, and I liked that it didn’t require a bunch of setup. It’s a good intro to circuits and sound design, without feeling overwhelming.

The SPRK+ is sleek, fast, and feels more like a toy than a learning tool—which is exactly why it works. You can use the Sphero Edu app to code it in different ways (including JavaScript), but my son mostly loved creating obstacle courses around the house. It teaches logic, problem-solving, and sequencing through play. A good option for active learners who want to see results instantly.

We used Dash when my son was on the younger side of the tween range, and it was a great entry point into robotics. It’s colorful, interactive, and comes with a subscription to Class Connect, which added a lot of depth with new challenges. I appreciated how much it grew with him—he started with simple Blockly commands and eventually built his own sequences and reactions. It’s fun, educational, and packed with content that doesn’t get boring and one of the best toys for 10 year old boys.

This one feels like a mix between art, storytelling, and game design—and it’s more hands-on than you’d expect. My son liked physically placing the colored blocks on the gameboard and then watching them come to life in the app. It’s a creative entry point into video game design, especially for kids who prefer building characters and worlds over typing lines of code. Good for visual learners and those who want to design, not just code.

Not traditional coding, but this kit was one of the most memorable builds we’ve done. The mechanical hand actually moves with your fingers, and while it doesn’t involve programming, it’s packed with engineering thinking and problem-solving. It was messy, challenging, and incredibly fun. If your tween leans toward hands-on tinkering, this is a great option to spark interest in robotics before jumping into actual coding.

We used Bitsbox for a few months during a coding unit and it was the only subscription box my son asked to keep getting. Each box includes app-based projects that gradually introduce coding concepts with plenty of variety. It’s great if your tween enjoys creating but needs a bit of structure. You don’t need to be tech-savvy to help them, and it builds real coding skills over time. Also nice to have something physical show up each month.

This is more of a traditional resource, but it’s written in a clear, engaging way that made it easier for my son to follow on his own. It focuses on building websites and games with JavaScript and doesn’t assume prior experience. We paired it with a simple code editor online and he was able to get started without much help from me. A solid choice for tweens ready to move from visual coding to something more advanced.

Check out all of the best books about coding for kids

Okay, this one isn’t coding in the tech sense, but hear me out—it’s pure logic. We’ve played Mastermind for years, and it’s still one of our favorite quick games. It’s all about decoding patterns and using deductive reasoning, which are foundational skills for any programmer. Great for two players, doesn’t require setup, and sneakily supports coding thinking without a screen in sight.