Everyone loves robots, especially when they’re not trying to kill you or take over the world. If robots are your thing, learning how to program one could prove to be an entertaining weekend task.
Petoi (www.petoi.com) makes a series of robot dogs called Bittle, and a cute robotic cat called Nybble. Available fully built or as a construction kit, these robots have a dedicated iOS app, and can are great for learning to program.
Engino (www.engino.com) produces toys for children aged 18 months upwards, and are designed to teach STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) subjects. There are some great projects.