The GAR 2025 Kindergarten Family Robotics Challenge: A Model for Early STEM and Family Engagement

Project Overview

The GAR 2025 Kindergarten Family Robotics Challenge was an innovative sub-event within the GAR 2025 World Championship Contest, hosted on December 7, 2025, at the MyFIRST Robotics Centre in Seremban, Malaysia. The event was organized by the Global Artificial Intelligence Robot Society (GARS), with co-organization from the GAR 2025 World Championship Organizing Committee, GARS Malaysia Organizing Committee, and MyFIRST Robotics, and was sponsored by Shanghai Nashenbot Co., Ltd.

Designed to introduce foundational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) principles to early learners through a collaborative family model, this initiative specifically targeted kindergarten-aged children and their parents, forming intergenerational teams that worked together using the Nashenbot MPBOT 609 robotics kit. This case study examines the program's design, execution, and educational impact, highlighting its success in transforming complex technology into an accessible, engaging, and family-centered learning experience.

Background and Educational Challenge

Integrating meaningful STEM education into early childhood curricula presents distinct challenges: young learners require concrete, play-based experiences, while parents and educators often face barriers in resources and technical confidence. The primary objective was to create an inclusive, low-pressure environment that demystifies robotics, promotes positive first encounters with technology, and strengthens the critical home-school learning connection from the earliest educational stage.

Solution: The "Family-as-a-Team" Model

GAR's innovative approach centered on the "Family-as-a-Team" model. Unlike conventional individual competitions, this format positioned the family unit as the core participant. Teams consisted of one or more children collaborating with their parent(s), working as a single unit to complete thematic challenges. The program utilized the age-appropriate Nashenbot MPBOT 609 kit, chosen for its intuitive design, which enabled immediate, hands-on engagement in building, basic coding, and problem-solving.

Participating Family 1 (Partial)

Participating Family 2 (Partial)

The model's practical application was demonstrated through the participation of families from Tadika Infiniti Ria kindergarten. These participants received direct, supportive guidance from expert mentors affiliated with the MyFIRST Robotics Centre, ensuring the educational integrity of the experience and providing a scaffolded environment for both children and parents to explore confidently.

Implementation and Key Activities

The challenge was structured around a series of progressive, story-driven tasks requiring teams to:

1. Assemble and Configure the MPBOT 609 modules.
2. Program Basic Sequences to navigate simple challenges.
3. Iterate and Problem-Solve as a team to optimize their robot's performance.

The activities emphasized process over product, valuing collaboration, communication, and creative thinking as much as technical success.

Children Enjoying Coding

Communication Between Parents and Their Child

Coding on The Map

A Family Begins Their Challenge

Educational Outcomes and Measured Impact

The program yielded significant positive outcomes across multiple dimensions of early learning and family engagement:

Celebrating Achievement

The challenge culminated in a celebratory awards ceremony, where each participating child was recognized for their creativity, effort, and growth. This moment of achievement underscored the program's core philosophy: that every step in the learning journey deserves celebration, and that building confidence is as important as building robots.

Presenting Awards to Outstanding Families (Partial)

Presenting Awards to Outstanding Children (Partial)

Best Popularity Award

Kindergarten Awards Ceremony Photo

Conclusion and Strategic Implications

The GAR 2025 Kindergarten Family Robotics Challenge has successfully established a replicable and impactful model for introducing STEM education at the earliest stages of learning. Its foundational innovation—positioning the family unit as the core collaborative team—has proven highly effective in lowering psychological and technical barriers, fostering natural intergenerational learning, and transforming advanced technological concepts into accessible, enjoyable experiences for young children.

Core Philosophy: Learning Through Shared Joy

This initiative embodies GAR's educational philosophy that meaningful innovation begins with inclusion, collaboration, and joy. By designing experiences where learning is a shared journey between child and parent, GAR moves beyond technical skill acquisition to nurture the essential ecosystem for long-term STEM engagement—one built on confidence, curiosity, and strong support systems.

Acknowledgments

We extend our sincere thanks to the participating families and Tadika Infiniti Ria for their enthusiastic engagement, and to MyFIRST Robotics Centre for their expert guidance and support, which were instrumental in ensuring a positive and educationally rich experience for all.

A Blueprint for Future Innovators

The program provides a scalable blueprint for educators, institutions, and policymakers. It demonstrates conclusively that high-quality, engaging STEM education can and should begin in early childhood. By embedding collaborative, hands-on technology experiences at the foundation of a child's educational journey, GAR is helping to cultivate not just future technicians or engineers, but a generation of creative problem-solvers and confident innovators who view technology as a tool for connection and positive change.