We have seen Hex Bugs in stores for a while and since they are typically displayed at the counter as an impulse buy, I was always curious but wary. Impulse buys are typically things you wouldn't buy if you weren't being impulsive, right? But I also have a keen interest in robotics for toddlers. So we went ahead and asked the company to send us one to see how they work.

Z's grandmother Karen has occasionally contributed here and on Gardenaut, and you'll see more of her and her husband Tim snacking on CDs and DVDs on Punnybop (we published her review of the great Yes to Running! live performance DVD by Bill Haley today, you can read it and see clips here). She was even more excited than I was about the Hex Bug. After playing with it extensively with Z one day, she declared it "a wind-up toy on steroids" and shared the following impressions:

Z couldn’t figure out what all the commotion was about as I jumped around waving this tiny roach-looking thing. I summoned her to the table and turned it on. She reacted with a little hesitation until I clapped my hands and the Hex Bug turned. Z became curious and moved closer. The Hex Bug moved toward her. I clapped my hands again and it turned. She moved even closer. It advanced again. Z timidly put her hand out and the Hex Bug turned away. Z was sold!

The next hour entailed much giggling and hand clapping which escalated to shouting and out right laughing as we figured out how to manipulation the motion of Charlie, our Hex Bug. By the way, while Charlie looks like a roach, Z is sure he is not. He is just a bug, a very nice bug.

So is Charlie appropriate for a four-year old? Well, yes and no. Charlie is great fun and he is often requested for play time with Z. He is, though, a bit delicate for the likes of an active four-year-old. But with proper supervision, Charlie the Hex Bug is a joy. Adults will want one too. If I had a cubicle, I’d want Charlie there to entertain my cubicle mates.

As you can tell from the above description, a Hex Bug can hear and can sense objects in its path by touch and avoid them. It then backs up in a half circle and moves forward in a different direction. It also responds to vibration. The Hex Bug is available in five distinctive shapes and colors, each sold separately for around $10. From tail to feelers the Hex Bug measures just about three inches long and weighs a little over half of an ounce. Batteries are included.

This means having more than one Hex Bug would be even more fun. I'm tempted to Bogart little Charlie, buy another one, pop them in a box lid with our Awika, and wow Z with their interactions.