For teens ready to graduate from LEGO-based robotics, FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) offers the next step up. Teams of middle and high school students design, build, and program more advanced robots—using metal parts, custom electronics, and serious coding—to play a new game each season. Created by FIRST to bridge between LEGO League and full-size FIRST Robotics Competition, FTC combines engineering, entrepreneurship, and community outreach. Parents appreciate that students can take on roles from CAD design to social media, not just driving the robot. It’s ideal for motivated teens who enjoy working on long-term projects in a team environment. The main drawbacks are cost and time: teams often meet multiple times per week and need sponsorships. Pro tip: before joining, attend a local meet or watch match videos together so your teen sees the culture and expectations firsthand.
