8 Benefits of Participating in Robotics competitions for kids

Today’s world is very fast-moving. Science and technology have ensured that digital trends come and go with astonishing speed in this new age. As a result, parents often find themselves unsure of what path to set for their children. While kids must pick out their own courses, it is great if parents could open them to new options early on. Not only does this provide the child with a larger variety of options, but it also ensures they pick up essential skills. Robotics is one of those fields that are at the forefront of the significant change we are experiencing now. Hence, a lot of parents are eager to let their children explore robotics. How big a part does robotics competitions for kids play in encouraging them? How important are these robotics competitions for students when it comes to motivating them? In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the benefits of robotics competitions for children and why they are essential. 

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1. Robotics Starter (Age 8+)

2. Robotics Explorer (Age 11+)

3. Robotics Champion (Age 14+)

4. Coding Champion (Age 14+)

5. Coding Starter (Age 8+)

6. Coding Explorer (Age 11+)

7. Drones Starter (Age 8+)

8. Drones Explorer (Age 11+)

9. Drones Champion (Age 14+)

List of Robotics competitions for kids

Let us start by looking at some of the most popular robotics competitions for kids from around the world.

FIRST Robotics Competition

FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is one of the world’s leading nonprofits that work in education. This organisation works tirelessly to ensure that children stay passionate about engineering, maths and science. FIRST competitions and programs encourage children to nurture their inner curiosity and improve their scientific knowledge. As a result, the FIRST robotics competition for kids has become a huge hit, attracting students of all ages. They have four programs for different age-groups, which are as follows

• LEGO® League Jr. - For kids between the ages of six and ten
• LEGO® League - For kids between the ages of nine and sixteen
• Tech Challenge - For kids between the ages of twelve and eighteen
• Robotics Competition - For kids between the ages of fourteen and eighteen

VEX Robotics Competition

Run and organised by the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, VEX is a hugely popular robotics competition for kids. The program encourages children to build towards a future in STEM by taking science-related courses. Their VEX Robotics Competition helps involve children as young as middle-schoolers to explore the field of robotics. After regional and state competitions, the best teams compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship, which sees teams from all over the world.

World Robot Olympiad

One of the oldest and most prestigious kids robotics competitions in the world, the WRO helps children between the ages of 6 and 26. Contests are held all over the world, with over 60 countries participating annually with an overall participation of more than 62,000 students. Participating teams must design, develop and build robots to perform actions as indicated by the game plan. The challenges and contests are set according to the theme of the year, which changes annually. The various programs are as follows;

• Regular Category - for six to nineteen-year-olds
• Open Category - for six to nineteen-year-olds
• Soccer Category
• Advanced Robotics Challenge

Robonation

This robotics competition for kids aims to provide children with hands-on experience related to science. It also provides students with essential resources that help them with their career. Furthermore, the competition also supports children in following their passion and aiding their professional development. They have two main programs, which are as follows;

SeaPerch - An underwater robotics competition for kids that focuses on building an underwater remotely-operated vehicle. The competition is open to students between Grades two and twelve.

SeaGlide - This competition requires high-schoolers to build an underwater glider, helping children learn about autonomy and electronics. 

RoboCupJunior

An educational robotics competition for kids that helps promote programming and robotics, the RCJ has grown exponentially in recent years. The tournament features a league style of competition that encourages young students to explore science and showcase their talents. The three leagues that are a part of the competition are as follows;

1. Soccer
2. Rescue
3. OnStage

All the competitions are open to children between the ages of eight and nineteen.

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What happens at a robotics competition?

Here’s a quick look at what usually happens at robotics competitions for kids;

1. Serves as a gathering of young minds that share a common passion.
2. Children work together building robots that will compete against each other.
3. Every tournament may have its own team, which determines the rules of the contest.
4. Most of these robotics competitions occur at different levels, categorised according to their ages.
5. A lot of these competitions also feature mentors to help children explore robotics and work through their problems. 
6. Many competitions give students enough time to create a robot. However, they might require students to rebuild the robot on the day of the competition.
7. Furthermore, these competitions also require students to present their design and talk about the process of creating the robot. 

8 Benefits of participating in Robotics competitions for kids

1. Students get an opportunity to meet other people of their age who share the same passion.
2. Helps students develop better leadership and teamworking skills.
3. Allows students to gain access to educational resources which aid their growth.
4. Helps students secure financial grants, scholarships and improves their chances of getting into good colleges later on.
5. Plays a significant role in making science and technology more approachable and fun.
6. Build communication skills and learn how to collaborate with others effectively during group projects.
7. Learn how to make decisions under pressure and work in conditions similar to the scientific industry.
8. Helps students find and interact with role models who inspire and encourage them.

Other benefits include;

1. Grants students an opportunity to form global friendships and gain experience working with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
2. Such competitions help lay the groundwork for the future careers of students.
3. It allows them to involve themselves with a community and feel a part of a like-minded group. 
4. Helps students understand what their strengths and weaknesses are so that they can work on those skills.
5. Enables children to get better prepared for their future roles and responsibilities. 

Excited about robotics for your kids? Take our Robotics Quiz to kickstart their STEM journey!

Now that you know just how vital robotics competitions are for kids, what are you planning to do? Make sure you enter these robotics competitions with at least some preparation. To help you build enough knowledge required to participate, we have a sleuth of courses. Our robotics courses will help your child explore the world of robotics with a mentor nudging them along. So, don’t waste time going over a hundred million books on robotics. Enroll in our robotics courses or robotics summer camp and gain a robust curriculum that will help you prove your mettle in such students robotics competitions! 

8 Benefits of Participating in Robotics competitions for kids