Mixed-brand "robotics starter kits"?
Our position, and other voices worth reading before you decide.
Our position
Pick a platform and commit. Bundles that mix a LEGO-compatible construction set with an Arduino microcontroller and a generic sensor pack teach neither the LEGO side nor the Arduino side well. Kids spend half the time troubleshooting wire colors and the other half re-explaining which piece goes with which.
If you want LEGO robotics, buy Spike Prime. If you want Arduino electronics, buy an Arduino Student Kit. If you want something in between, buy micro:bit plus a single chassis platform. Do not buy hybrid kits that pretend to do all three.
Other voices
Reputable sources worth reading before you decide. Labels reflect our honest read of each source's general stance, not direct quotes.
Arduino Education
Broadly agreesArduino's own education line is designed as a coherent platform (kit + IDE + curriculum) - precisely because mixing brands gets messy fast.
micro:bit Educational Foundation
Broadly agreesThe micro:bit project emphasizes consistent platform + curriculum + hardware. Schools that follow the official path report smoother rollouts than those that buy generic bundles.
Snap Circuits tradition
Pushes backSome classroom kits (Snap Circuits, littleBits) deliberately integrate multiple electronic elements and teach general electronics rather than one specific platform. That is a valid model for intro electronics - just not one that substitutes for programmable robotics.
Amazon "robotics kit for kids" category
Nuanced / mixedThe category is enormous and wildly variable. Some kits are good; most are hybrids that under-serve each component. Weight by specific product, not the shelf label.