Robots making school less scary place for autistic children: Friendly mini-droids chat, play games and even teach pupils

School can be a daunting place for children with autism – with many struggling to communicate with peers and stay focused.

But one school think they have found a solution – robot teachers, the Daily Mail reports.

Topcliffe Primary in Birmingham is the first in the country to use humanoid robots to help teach pupils with autism.

The knee-high machines, which are designed to move in the same way as children, can be programmed to have conversations, play games, dance and even take classes.

But unlike human teachers, Max and Ben – so named by the pupils – have blank features, no emotions and standardized expressions and responses.

It is this, according to head teacher, Ian Lowe that makes the robots much easier for autistic to children to relate to and understand.

‘Autistic children find them less threatening and easier to engage with than adults and other children, so they provide a safe environment for them to explore and develop their communication skills,’ he said.

‘Children who first come into school unable to make eye contact with humans start to communicate through the robots.

‘They are also cute and lovable which helps capture their attention,’ he added.

The mainstream state school, which caters for children without autism, has a centre dedicated to those with the disability – the long-term aim being to get them to integrate into classes with other children.

Many autistic children have successfully been able to do so, thanks in part to the way the school has taken on such technology, according to Mr Lowe.