Smarty JOJO can recognize whether they got it right—and will light up in that
color, to boot. And it talks, too, giving kids words of encouragement.
SPHERO MINI ACTIVITY KIT
$79.99. AGES 5 AND UP; RECHARGEABLE.
We already thought the Sphero programmable
robot ball was pretty cool. The Sphero Mini Activity
Kit is a less expensive alternative that includes a
clear-shelled, drivable Sphero Mini ball with a
gyroscope, accelerometer, and LED lights for 45
minutes of battery life. Also in the kit are
accessories for 15 projects kids can build, play with,
and even try some simple coding.OSMO LITTLE GENIUS STARTER KIT
$79.99. AGES 3 TO 5. IPAD REQUIRED.
Osmo’s kit conceptualizes basic lessons for
young children. It includes a small, downward-
angled mirror, a stand, a play mat, 38 silicon
rings and sticks for creating letters and shapes,
and 19 costumes and a character board for the
two dress-up games included with the set. It
requires a tablet—ideally an iPad or Kindle
Fire—and connects to Osmo’s apps suite. The
mirror slides over your tablet’s camera, allowing
the device to “see” your creations and scan them
into one of Osmo’s games. Four free apps are compatible with the Starter Kit
out of the box: ABCs and Stories are educational, and Costume Party and
Squiggle Magic provide more open, experimental experiences. The character
board features a generic, gender-neutral child onto which you can layer clothes
and props—everything from space suits to tutus. Osmo’s starter kit is a little
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educational journey.
PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION (^) I SUBSCRIBE (^) I DECEMBER 2021