When I first heard about this coding wand, I was immediately intrigued by the crossover between the world of Harry Potter and the increasingly complex world of programming. Getting kids involved with coding early can only help make it more accessible to the next generation, so I was excited to get my hands on a kit and play around with it.
I did initially face some confusion, as I didn't realize the wand required a bluetooth connection to a tablet or PC, and unfortunately the front of the box doesn't make that entirely clear (although in fairness...I'm not sure what other magical technology I would've expected this kit to use). The software does not support phones, nor screens smaller than 7", so I couldn't use my iPhone or older Amazon Fire, and my desktop PCs don't have bluetooth baked into them. After getting into the software, I understand why the strict requirements of larger screens, since dragging around code blocks would've been next to impossible on an iPhone. I did manage to find an old Surface tablet that worked perfectly for this, but I wish the requirements were a bit clearer up front.
Opening the box, you'll find an unassembled wand, and a very clean, clear guide that introduces you to the hardware. It will step you through building your wand while showing off the many aspects of the PCB). The wand itself, once you've assembled it, has a nice weight to it (from the batteries) and feels good to wave around. The single button on it is generally used to 'center' the wand in the app any time you need to reset its position. There doesn't seem to be any on/off setting available, and the instructions specifically recommend you remove the batteries when it's not in use, so I'm unclear if there's a sleep function or not. After assembly, you're pointed towards the downloadable application and ready to go!
The app is clean and easy to use, with bright buttons, sounds, and large UI perfect for poking and prodding. The challenges you're presented with are all very straightforward, with it telling you to drag this, change that, push this, etc directly. As an adult, I wished it provided a bit more explanation and context for why you're changing this number or that setting while dragging the code blocks around, but the more I played with the challenges, the more I realized that the ideal teaching method being used here is simply repetition. Many of the challenges give you the same instructions over and over again, and after a number of challenges where you're being walked through how to set up a 'while' loop, for example, I knew the exact order of operations to get a 'while' code block up and running and it made future challenges much faster to set up and get going.
The instructions/step-by-steps are a bit sensitive and can break easily if you jump ahead of it, but the app overall doesn't really care how closely you follow the instructions, and at any point you're able to just break free of the guide and do whatever you'd like in your coding. The sharing functions are great, and you can jump over to the Kano World part of the app to see what other people are creating. The gallery appears to be updating instantly; any time I switched over to it, there would be new creations that had been uploaded only seconds earlier. Most of the shared creations are very simple, and there are no options to filter or sort by the 'best' or most popular, so it was difficult to see some more complex creations or find some crazy ideas that had been built. Seems like a great place for a future update to the app, though!
Overall, this is an extremely easy way to be introduced to the world of coding. The box says it's for ages 6+, and I'd agree with that, but I think if your child is on the younger side of the scale, it may require more supervision, given that a lot of terms used in the app are never explained (such as "frames" versus "milliseconds" on the code blocks, or some of the more complex math used to calculate wand motion). It's not crucial that a child understand the terms if they're just following the instructions, however some introductory language or guides towards not just what to change, but why, would be helpful.
PS. Oh! And don't forget about the customization options...completing challenges unlocks outfits, accessories, and more for you to decorate your character with. They're all Harry Potter themed, of course, so if your child is a fan, they will definitely enjoy putting on a Gryffindor scarf or holding a bottle of Felix Felicis.
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From the manufacturer
What you do
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Build a wandOpen the box, pull out the pieces, button and board. Follow the simple steps, build your own wand, learn how it works. Connect it to your tablet or computer, and start creating with the Wizarding World. |
Learn to code70+ creative challenges show you how. With simple steps connect code blocks, see the Javascript. Level up slowly, learn about loops, logic, and variables. Simple for beginners, expansive for experts. |
Make MagicWave your wand and see instant effects on screen. Make feathers fly, goblets multiply, fire flow, pumpkins grow, and more. Creature with creatures, spell motions, sweets, 200+ sounds, music, and wizarding artifacts. |
Hogwarts, costumes, surprises
Unlock challenges across iconic locations including Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and Hogsmeade, whilst listening to a stunning original score. The more challenges you complete the more costumes and medals you earn. Discover secrets along the way.
Endless Play
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Replay ChallengesYou can revisit challenges from the iconic locations as many times as you like. But why not change it up, add a new creature or spell motion? |
Playground ModeOnce you've learned the basics, there's no end to what you can make. Code your own creations with creatures, make things levitate, or grow, use official spell motions. |
Kano WorldJoin our creative community. Be inspired, make, share and play with magical creations by people all over the world. Safe and friendly. |
Remix 700,000+ CreationsSee the code behind any creation, then tweak it to make it your own. Change the gravity, add magical artifacts, particles, music, wand movements. |
What you need to know
FAQ
What is the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit?
It's a DIY kit that shows you how to build a Bluetooth Coding Wand, learn to code with step-by-step creative challenges, and make magic, with a wave, twist, and a twirl.
What is the recommended age for the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit?
The Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit can be enjoyed by everyone, but we recommend our kits for ages 6 to 690 (Dumbledore's age).
Device Compatibility
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WindowsWindows 10 Home, Pro & S (1703 Creator's Update or newer) 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 64-bit (x64) processor Minimum 4GB RAM Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth Smart 4.0, Bluetooth LE 4.1, Bluetooth LE 4.2, Bluetooth LE 5.0) |
Amazon Fire OSFire OS 5.6.2.0 or higher Fire HD 8 (2016) or HD 10 (2017) or newer Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth Smart 4.0, Bluetooth LE 4.1, Bluetooth LE 4.2, Bluetooth LE 5.0) *FreeTime must be disabled |
Android TabletAndroid 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher 7" touchscreen or larger Minimum 1.5GB RAM Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth Smart 4.0, Bluetooth LE 4.1, Bluetooth LE 4.2, Bluetooth LE 5.0) |
AppleOSX Mac OS 10.10 (Yosemite) or later. Minimum 4GB RAM. Intel 64-bit processor. Core m, Core m3, Core m5, Core m7, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, Core i9, Xeon. Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth Smart 4.0, Bluetooth LE 4.2, Bluetooth LE 5.0) iOS Tablet iOS 10 or later iPad 4th Generation and later iPad Mini 2 and later iPad Air 2 and later iPad Pro and later Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth Smart 4.0, Bluetooth LE 4.2, Bluetooth LE 5.0) |
Videos
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Customer Review: Great interactivty and a good co-op activity
Gabriel
Videos for this product
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Kano Harry Potter Wand Review: Learn to Code?
OSReviews
Reviews with images
A small learning curve, but real magic awaits shotly thereafter
A small learning curve, but the app works wonders once it clicks with your child.My daughter, who turned nine late this year, has had a major league year of Harry Potter. She read the entire series from cover to cover, watched the complete movie series, and we even took her to Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World. So she was fully matriculated in the magic arts by the time we gave her the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit.The first thing to realize is that this does not require your child to learn actual programming languages like C++ or Javascript, but tasks children with learning visually-represented programming and logic routines, which does a great job introducing kids to the structure and flow and arrangements of programming languages.At first my daughter just wanted to wave her wand at the screen and watch the sparkles follow where she pointed, but soon she figured it out and that’s when the app really begins to shine. She’s only had it for a few days now, so I’m curious to see how far the kit takes her, but so far so good.Also, I’m running this on a 2015 iPad Pro, which runs the program with no problems, but I did have some challenges getting the wand to effectively update the wand. The process is a little obtuse but we eventually got it sorted out. Make sure to check the list of supported tablets and operating systems to ensure this app is compatible with your device.
Top reviews from other countries
TSG11
Brilliant idea!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2019
TSG11
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2019
The packaging is brilliant which will help to build the birthday excitement and the product itself is great; accessible and fun. I can’t wait to use it with our little boy as he begins his adventures with Harry Potter - this is definitely going to help bring the magic alive and I love that it’s educatuonal as well.
I’m so pleased we’ll be buying for our preteen nieces and nephews as well.
Images in this review
Chris S
An excellent coding introduction for the HP obsessed.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2021