SmartGurlz with Jun Doll - App Controlled STEM Toy

Thought my 9 yo granddaughter would like it, description said 8+. Upon receiving, box said 5+. Don't know which is correct and didn't want to risk giving her something that might underwhelmed her.

They toy is amazing and what it does is very cool, but I had the hardest time trying to connect to my iPhones. Most time it would not connect at all! Overall it was good intentions but it ended up being a bust!

I am writing this review jointly with my daughter who loves the SmartGurlz Robot Siggy! She first learned about it during a coding workshop for young girls coordinated by Morrison Mentors. The following are the Positives and Negatives, but we still give the Siggy the full 5 stars because it is such a cool concept and a terrific way to increase the numbers of women drawn to coding and entering the STEM field, including my daughter, who envisions a future as an engineer thanks to programs and educational toys like these.Positives:• The balance feature works very well• The app is simple and easy to use• When you program the Siggy the movements and distances are extremely accurate• The coding tutorials are clear and perfect for young kids• It’s easy to connect the Siggy to your device – any Apple or Android device works• It is so much fun!Only Negative: The overall design of the app could be improved with more visually appealing graphics.Every parent should consider getting a Smartgurlz Robot Siggy if they have children interested in coding!

There is not enough programming. Other programmable toys have sensors and can interact with them. This could just go in circles. The self-balancing trick is cool, but wish they would have put more into sensors so girls could do more advanced things than just make it dance. It’s kind of insulting to girls that this one is so basic.

I thought I was getting my daughter a cool toy for Christmas since she is such the gamer & since it boasts that it teaches the user how to code....NOT. This toy is the worst rip off ever. They never tell you that to even use the toy it has to balance on its own....well the toy NEVER seemed to be able to do this. In addition to return it has been a nightmare as well. I went to return it, took it to the Khol's drop off & had it shipped back. Then I find out that they are not refunding me my money but sending me a replacement. Well if the first one didn't work, I will assume a replacement is not going to either. So I waited for it to arrive & indicated I want to return it for a refund. Now all of a sudden Kohl's drop off doesn't work it has to be UPS. So fine I tried a UPS drop off & couldn't do it there I actually have to drive out of my way to a UPS store. So not only did the toy that I got for my daughter on Christmas did not work, but now I have to be further inconvenienced because they will not provide a return label for me to print out & return. NEVER AGAIN.