Osmo Review

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Kids spend so much time staring at screens these days, and there is a lot of pressure on parents to make sure that this time is as limited, safe and beneficial as possible.

The rise in STEM (science, 怎样自慰, engineering and math) games and apps available on the market reflects this trend, as brands all over the world try to offer the most fun and educational content for your children.

So how can we encourage 怎样自慰 literacy without screen addiction?. Many of the STEM computer games and apps out there are too dry and unengaging, or extremely engaging but educationally lacking.

Luckily, Osmo has created a formula that actually works.

Osmo creates educational kits that combine real, tangible puzzle pieces with computer software, meaning that screen time is not purely spent sitting and staring at a screen.

The software interacts with the physical puzzle pieces as kids arrange them, so these kits have the feeling of an old fashioned board game, crossed with a modern computer game. It may sound like an unlikely pairing but it actually works really well.

Kids are encouraged to collaborate and cooperate to complete the games, and there are family orientated games too, so you can join in with the fun. In this article, we look at three of the top-selling Osmo kits and assess their pros and their cons.

Osmo Genius Starter Kit For iPad 

Osmo’s Genius Starter Kit is a best seller and is a really good way to introduce your kids to the concept of Osmo.

This kit is aimed at children aged 6 to 10 and we found that slightly older kids continue to be engaged by the games and puzzles if younger siblings or classmates are playing. The Genius Starter Kit games center on math, literacy, spelling, drawing and logical thinking. 

What You Get

• Osmo iPade base
• Osmo reflector
• Number tiles
• Word tiles
• Tangram pieces
• Stackable boxes
• 5 game apps – Words, Numbers, Tangram, Newton, and Masterpiece

*You do not get an iPad or tablet with the kit, so it is important that you have access to your own.

How It Works

In the box, you get an Osmo iPad base into which you can place your iPad so that it stands upright on a countertop. You also receive a reflector that is clipped onto the top of your iPad so that a mirror covers the front-facing camera.

When switched on, the reflector enables the iPad to see the tabletop or flat surface in front of it where the puzzle pieces are placed. This in turn enables the game to respond in real-time to the physical progress that your kids make. It really is pretty cool.

You have to download the Osmo game apps onto your iPad before you begin, but the software is slick and the process is quick. Once downloaded, the app becomes the hub from which kids can select games and pathways.

Educational Value

The great thing about the Osmo Genius Starter kit is that kids really don’t feel like they are learning, and yet they are.

The puzzle pieces are brightly colored and fun to handle, and the act of physically laying them down means that kids can’t just switch off and become passive as is the case with so many computer games. 

The games themselves range in difficulty from beginner right the way through to advanced, which is great as it means that your kid won’t outgrow the kit too quickly.

Whether they are matching shapes to those on-screen in Tangram, spelling words, adding, subtracting or even drawing, the 玉瑶公主高h喷汁呻吟 are engaging and fun and there is ample room for progression.

The Newton and Masterpiece apps are particularly good for slightly older kids as they contain educational content about geography, marine biology, physics and even freehand drawing, yet all under the guise of a really fun computer game. 

Is The Osmo Genius Starter Kit Worth It?

Do most kids grow out of this kit by the time they reach middle school age? Sure. But for 6 to 10 years olds, there is plenty of fun and learning to be had, which is more than can be said for most other STEM learning games and apps.

The physical element sets this kit apart and the sheer number of games and puzzles means it has a longer lifespan than most. The downside is that this kit comes with a hefty price tag.

The cost is largely justified by the great quality of the software and hardware, however, it is a kit best suited to multiple players so we recommend it specifically for families with multiple siblings within the age range.

Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit For Fire Tablet

If you have kids aged 3 to 5 then the Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit could be a more suitable option.

It has simplified pieces and puzzles aimed at little ones so that you can get them started early and develop their shape, letter and number recognition skills, along with fine motor skills, concentration and creativity.

What You Get

• Osmo Fire Tablet base and camera reflector
• 38 silicone sticks / rings
• 19 cardboard costume pieces
• Silicone game play mat
• Stackable storage boxes
• 4 game apps: Costume Party, Stories, ABCs, and Squiggle Magic

*The kit is compatible with certain models of Amazon Fire Tablet but does not come with a tablet included. It is important that you ensure your tablet is compatible with the kit prior to purchase in order to avoid disappointment.

How It Works

The setup of the Little Genius Starter Kit is much the same as the Genius Starter Kit, in that you place your tablet in the base, and place the reflector over its front-facing camera.

This kit comes with a handy silicone play mat, however, which is a brilliant addition for little ones. The mat helps younger children focus their attention and also helps them to place their puzzle pieces in the correct area where the reflector can detect them.

The pieces themselves are BPA free and dishwasher safe, and this really is important as young hands are prone to dropping and dirtying items regularly.

You can let your child play happily and then pop the pieces in the dishwasher afterwards to return them to a clean, fresh condition and they will not fade or break.

The sticks and rings are used to create shapes, letters and numbers in response to those shown on the screen, and in general, they work well.

However, the process is slightly fiddly for some little ones and does take some getting used to. We found that by far the most popular element of this kit were the costume pieces.

Kids get to choose outfits for cardboard characters and dress them up according to where they are / what they are doing on screen. It is a delightful game that sparks lots of conversation and fun.

Educational Value

The educational value of the Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit is really all about the developmental stages. The games are simple, clear, structured and fun and as children play they incidentally learn about letters, numbers, shapes and more. 

We found that the most could be gained from this kit when children were accompanied by an adult as they played. There are plenty of scope for asking questions and opening up discussions about color, emotion, counting and more, and all this aids vocabulary and knowledge.

The placing of the sticks and rings on the mat requires attention and fine motor skills, and we found that the 3 to 5 age range was appropriate.

Is The Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit Worth It?

Once again, this Osmo kit does not come cheap, in fact, it costs less to purchase a Fire Tablet than the kit itself. However, the developmental benefits of the kit are undeniable and will bring lots of joy and intrigue to any young child.

We think this kit is worth the money so long as you have the time to play it alongside your kid. That is when the most important learning and progress can be made.

Osmo Coding Family Bundle For iPad And Fire Tablet

Finally, we have the Osmo Coding Family Bundle, which is a more recent offering from Osmo. This kit is compatible with both iPad and Fire Tablet, meaning that even if you change devices at home you will still be able to get the most out of it.

The designers have tried to include more cooperative, collaborative and competitive elements in this kit, so this is one to buy for all the family. We think it is best suited to those who already have one of the Starter Kits and are looking for more Osmo challenges.

The box recommends an age range of 5 to 10 years and up. We think this is pretty accurate, so long as older kids are playing alongside others. Middle school kids will most likely find this coding bundle a little basic as a solo endeavour, but will still find enjoyment in the competitive and collaborative elements it offers.

What You Get

• 31 physical coding blocks
• Walk
• Hand
• Jump
• Rest
• Magic
• Numbers (quantifiers)
• Subroutines
• Repeat
• Stackable storage boxes
• 3 game apps: Coding Duo, Coding Jam, and Coding Awbie

* You do not get an Osmo base or reflector with this bundle so it is best suited to those who already have an Osmo kit. You can also purchase the base and reflector separately from Amazon.

How It Works

The Osmo Coding Family Bundle aims to introduce kids to the very basic concepts of computer coding in a fun and engaging way. It really is designed for beginners, and the physical puzzle pieces help to make an abstract idea more tangible and real.

As with all Osmo kits, you download the app onto your iPad or tablet, place the device in your Osmo base and let the reflector detect the physical puzzle pieces as you lay them down on the tabletop in front of the screen.

The pieces are magnetic and hold together in a really satisfying way. They are specifically designed to reflect simple coding instructions and commands, and the onscreen game responds in real-time to the commands sent by the pieces.

Educational Value

The three-game apps are well designed and polished. Kids can guide characters through different worlds using the counters and can build and develop the world as they go.

The bundle certainly works as an effective introduction to computer coding, but for older kids, the games can seem limited. 

The real value of this family bundle is how collaborative it is. The designers have created far more opportunity for players to work together to solve problems and complete levels, and it is this element that makes it a great social tool as well as a coding tool.

Is The Osmo Coding Family Bundle Worth It?

Computers and 怎样自慰 are an important part of our world, and introducing our kids to them at a young age is very important.

The Osmo Coding Bundle is an additional bundle that can really extend the life and refresh the relevance of an existing Osmo kit. It is cheaper than the other kits on our list for this very reason, and it is a worthwhile buy if you know that your kids responded well to the Starter kits.

Older kids will benefit more from programs like Scratch when it comes to developing their coding skills, but as an introductory kit, it is second to none.