Most screen-free coding kits become expensive drawer clutter within months, teaching little that transfers to real programming skills. In this episode, Chloe Miller shares the exact evaluation checklist she developed after stress-testing dozens of unplugged coding systems in her own workshop. Whether you're a parent investing in your child's computational thinking or an educator building a classroom curriculum, you'll learn how to audit durability, pedagogical value, and environmental impact before spending a dollar. The central question: how do you separate kits that build careers from those that build landfill waste?

• Material composition determines longevity—ABS plastic tokens survive years of drops and spills, while laminated cardboard tiles start delaminating after just a few months in humid conditions.

• Conne ...