Your Kid’s Guide to Design and Build a First Robot!
If your child has ever said, “I want to build a robot!” — great news: they absolutely can.
And it’s easier than you think to get started.
In this post, we’ll walk through how your child (even as young as 6 years old) can design and build their very first robot — no advanced skills or experience required. All it takes is curiosity, imagination, and a few basic parts.
Let’s begin with something simple and fun…
Step 1: Imagine What You Want to Build
Let’s say your child wants to make a robot that spins — like a tiny merry-go-round.
Start by thinking about:
What will it look like?
How big will it be?
Will it spin fast or slow? In one direction or both?
This early thinking stage helps build imagination and problem-solving. Encourage your child to sketch it out or describe it in their own words.
Step 2: Figure Out How It Will Move
Now comes the real fun: turning the idea into motion.
To make something spin, you need a motor.
But not just any motor — you need a motor that spins in a full circle (we call this a 360° motor), and ideally one that can:
Spin in both directions
Change speeds
Your child is now starting to think like an engineer!
Step 3: What Makes the Motor Spin?
A motor can’t spin on its own — it needs:
A power source (like a small battery pack)
A control device (something like a servo tester that lets you control how fast and in which direction the motor spins)
These pieces help kids understand how power and control come together to create movement.
Step 4: Add the Platform
Next, you need a circular platform — the “merry-go-round” part — that the motor will spin.
Ask:
What will it be made of? (cardboard, wood, plastic?)
How will it attach securely to the motor?
This gets kids thinking about materials, design, and real-world assembly — essential parts of any robotics project.
Step 5: Put It All Together
Now that you have all the parts:
A circular platform
A 360° motor
A power source
A control device (like a servo tester)
And the wires or attachments needed
It’s time to assemble!
Let your child connect the parts, test the setup, and see it come to life. When that platform starts spinning, they’ll realize — they just built their very first robot! 🎉
Wait… Is It Really a Robot?
Well… sort of! This is a fantastic start, but technically, robots are programmable machines. So if your child wants to build a true robot, the next step is to add a microcontroller (like an Arduino or micro:bit) and write a little bit of code to control the motor.
But don’t worry — we’ll cover how to do that in the next blog post!
Final Thoughts
This type of project is perfect for first-time builders and young kids. It’s simple, fun, and teaches important robotics concepts like:
Mechanical design
Electrical components
Cause and effect
Problem solving
Most importantly, it shows kids that they can create something real — and that’s the first step toward a lifelong love of STEM.
Ready to try it out with your child?
Stay tuned for the next post where we’ll show you how to add a microcontroller and start writing your first lines of code.
At Kids Explore Robotics, we’ve seen firsthand how kids light up when they complete their first robot — how they take pride in coding something that actually works. Whether they’re six or sixteen, this experience is empowering, inspiring, and unforgettable.
So if you’re thinking about how to help your child grow, explore, and get excited about learning — robotics just might be the best gift you can give.
👉 Ready to explore your options?
We offer live classes, summer camps, and video-based projects — designed by an engineer dad and his son — to make learning robotics fun, affordable, and meaningful. See some of our robots.
Let’s build something amazing together. 💡🔧🤖
Visit our website