New technological toys, such as simple robotics, allow young children to engage with complex mathematical processes from an early age. This paper describes pilot data of two case study children, aged five and eight years, exploring a Bee-bot programmable toy. The dynamic capabilities of this tool enabled the children to engage in transformational geometry, iteration of the toy as a unit measure and semiotic processing. The children demonstrated development of problem-solving strategies and relational thinking to plan, program and manipulate the toy through a complex pathway. Their use of kinaesthetic motion mimicked their mathematical thinking and the process of programming the toy provided unique opportunities for action and reflection.
From Kate Highfield, Joanne Mulligan, John Hedberg in the text Early Mathematics Learning Through Exploration with Programmable Toys (2008)