The concept: a fun, robot-themed maze game

Through a simple “programming” game I originally created for and thoroughly tested with my two daughters, the kids were able to dive into the world of programming concepts without even realizing it. Today, I want to share this game with you, so you can try it with your own children at home.

The basic idea behind the game is to guide a robot through a maze using a sequence of arrows. The goal is to collect flowers (or any other objects you choose) while navigating obstacles along the way.

The game can be as simple or complex as you like, depending on your child’s age and how much they’ve grasped the basic concepts. I’ve designed it so that it can easily evolve into more intricate puzzles as your child becomes more comfortable with the mechanics.

Getting started

To play this game, you can simply use objects in your home. You can also print the free game materials here. Here are the crucial elements:

1. The game board. You can print the provided empty 6x6 robot-themed grid. I recommend laminating it, so that markers can be used for drawing on it. Alternatively, you can take an ordinary chess board.
   
2. The robot. Take any small figurine that has a distinct front side. It must fit into the small squares in your game board’s grid. If you want to take the game to the next level, you can 3D-print colorful robot figurines.
   
3. Rewards to be picked by the robot. Having my grid laminated, I simply draw flowers on it with alcohol-based markers. Any other picture (“pokemon”) or physical object (e.g. pearls, stickers, candy…) will serve the same purpose - you know best what works for your child.
   
4. Maze walls and obstacles. I just use the markers to draw the maze. If you are using a chess board, you can utilize e.g. checkers, beans or other small objects.
   
5. Cards with arrows. You can print (or draw) the provided pack of cards with arrows that will be used for “programming” the robot. It might be useful to color arrows of one kind with one color. The set of at least 25 cards (preferably more) should include the following commands:

• 1 step forward
• 2 steps forward
• 3 steps forward
• 1 step backward (reverse)
• turn right
• turn left
• U turn

Ready to play?

The following tutorial will take you through the stages that take the game from simple fun to a complex brain teaser. Your role is to guide your child on this journey, much in the Montessori way.

Familiarize your child with the concept

1. Prepare the game board. Prepare an empty board. Place your robot and a “flower” near to each other.
2. Draw the path. Begin by having your child draw the path with their finger or a marker. Then let them walk the robot along the chosen path.
   
3. Repeat the previous steps, now with obstacles. Gradually, prolong the path the robot has to go to pick the flower and/or place more flowers on the board. Eventually, this may become a long curved route with obstacles along the way.
   
4. Create more intricate mazes. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Walls: Block certain areas of the maze with walls that the robot can’t pass through (draw thick lines).
• Black Holes: Place black holes in the maze that the robot must avoid (blacken some squares).
• Teleports: Use teleports to transport the robot from one part of the maze to another (designate squares).
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Introduce arrow commands

1. Take the most basic set of arrows: one step forward, turn right, turn left. Place the 3 cards next to the game board. These arrows will act as the commands that the child can use to move the robot step-by-step from one place to another.
   
2. Show what the “commands” do. Walk the robot in various directions using cards. Make sure that the robot goes in the right direction and turns to the correct side when facing different directions. Tip: place the cards directly above the robot before moving it.
   

• Repeat the previous stage, now with cards. Instead of drawing the full path, let the child execute it step by step by using the cards with arrows. You yourself execute the “commands” immediately as they are issued.
  
• Let the child make mistakes and figure them out. It is your role to serve as the guide.
  

3. Make it more complex.

• Introduce the full set of arrows. Use one card of each of the 7 types.
  
• Remove certain cards. Your robot is damaged and some commands are unavailable. E.g. remove “turn right” and “1 step forward” to making the child improvise using only left/U runs, reverse and double/triple steps.
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Introducing programming

Once your child has mastered moving the robot step by step, it is time to start creating “programs”. For this, you will need a larger pack of at least 25 cards, preferably more. The basic 3 cards (one step forward, turn right, turn left) should be most prevalent.

1. Prepare the setup. Draw a maze of an appropriate difficulty as in the previous steps and place your robot and flower(s). Put 9 cards face-up.

• First, make sure that all the needed cards are available in the set of 9.
• Later, deal the cards randomly from a mixed pack.
• When appropriate, play the devil by providing only inconvenient cards.
  

2. Creating short programs of 3 actions. Let the child select 3 cards and place them next to each other to “write a program”. Do not touch the robot or let them touch it before the program is completed. Then execute the program yourself. Possibly let them debug. Repeat until the robot reaches the goal.
   
3. Creating longer programs: challenge the child to create as long programs as they can from the provided cards so that the robot moves in the desired way. Can they use up all 9 cards without going astray?
   
4. Creating programs of exactly 5 (or 6) cards. This can get challenging, especially when the needed arrows are not available among the dealt 9 cards. This will encourage the child to think creatively and problem-solve as they find ways to work around obstacles in the maze.

Let’s make it even more fun!

Once your child is comfortable with the basic mechanics, you can introduce exciting new elements to keep the game engaging and challenging. Here are a few ideas:

1. Special abilities & power-ups

• Shooting down walls. Allow the robot to "shoot" certain walls if the child plays a special "laser" card. This adds a strategic element to choosing paths.
• Collecting keys. Place keys on the board that must be picked up before certain doors (walls) can be passed.

2. Enemies & hazards

• Moving enemies. Introduce an enemy that moves one step after each turn, forcing the child to predict movement patterns. This enemy can, for example, guard the final treasure by shooting anyone whom they face.
• Traps & pitfalls. Certain squares (e.g. black holes) could teleport the robot back to the start or a previous position if stepped on. Others can “force” the “programmer” to do certain tasks.

3. Multi-robot programming (team play)

• Co-op mode. Use two robots and have two players take turns programming their movements while avoiding collisions.
• Competitive mode. Two robots race to collect objects, but players can place obstacles to block each other’s paths.

4. Time challenges & scorekeeping

• Timed rounds. Give the child a set amount of time to plan their program before executing it.
• Efficiency challenges. Encourage using the fewest possible cards to complete the maze.

By introducing these fun mechanics, you can gradually evolve the game into a more complex and rewarding experience while keeping your child engaged!

Eventually, you can go on to play the well-known board game Robo Rally (which served as inspiration) with the whole family.

Keep practicing!

Like any new skill, children will need some practice to become proficient at algorithmic thinking. The more you play, the more their problem-solving skills and understanding of sequences will develop. It is also an excellent opportunity to bond with your child and introduce them to the basics of programming in a low-pressure and creative environment.

In fact, I was amazed at how quickly my daughters and also the children at the kindergarten picked up the game. They were not only excited but also eager to solve the puzzles on their own. It was a truly rewarding experience.

Happy playing, and enjoy the journey!