When you step closer, the ball rolls away. When you try to catch him, he escapes. This is Fizzy, an autonomous, robotic ball that is programmed to play with children. He is ambiguous, does not like to be captured but does need attention. Little wheels inside the motor make sure that the movement is unconstrained and facilitate his playful character.

Sphero knows how to make STEM programming fun, and the company's latest robotics kits are no exception. Kids can find their STEM inspiration through sports using the new soccer-themed robotic kit, which contains a mini robotic ball that looks just like a soccer ball. Sphero also is releasing a comprehensive mini kit with a variety of miniatures that kids can use to create obstacle courses, games, and more. With price tags under $100, these two robotic kits are bound to be a hit among kids and parents alike. Sphero's second mini kit, Sphero Mini soccer, is inspired by the sport of soccer.

In 2014, Apple introduced a programming language called Swift that made waves in the developer community -- not just for its power and flexibility, but for how easy it is to learn. So easy, in fact, that Apple believes it could be anyone's first programming language. That's why it went ahead and created Swift Playgrounds, a free iPad app designed to teach kids how to code. Now, a year after its release, Apple is ready to step up its educational repertoire further. With the June 5th release of Swift Playgrounds 1.5, Apple's app will now teach kids to program robots and drones as well.