Kids can complete Barbie-themed programming lessons on a free website.
Barbie has had many jobs over the years, from veterinarian to astronaut, but the fashion doll’s latest career choice goes beyond simple playtime. As Cool Mom Tech reported, the Career of the Year Barbie lets Barbie become a robotics engineer, with the real-world doll being accompanied by a digital experience for girls.
Barbie has partnered with educational programming platform Tynker to help young girls learn about STEM careers while playing games. Kids can visit the “Barbie You Can Be Anything” website to learn about programming and how it relates to six different careers: robotics engineer, beekeeper, astronaut, farmer, pastry chef, and musician.
The free learning experience contains multiple lessons to complete, with each teaching kids about programming through the use of command blocks. Parents will need to create a Tynker account for their kids before they can play.
According to data from the Economics & Statistics Administration (part of the U.S. Department of Commerce), women held only 24 percent of STEM jobs in 2015. Toys like robotics engineer Barbie can help that increase number by introducing girls to a career path they may not have considered before.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
