![]() ![]() The basic Osmo set up involves a few pieces of hardware that work together to create an augmented reality experience for kids that is actually pretty impressive. So while Osmo has excellent compatibility with Apple devices, Samsung and other Android users will have to look elsewhere. Outside of the Apple ecosystem, however, Osmo is only supported on certain Kindle Fire tablets for now – the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8 (may need an extra camera adapter) and HD 10. In fact, it can run on pretty much any iPad that runs iOS 10+, with the notable exceptions of the first generation iPad, the Air 4, and the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro series. Osmo requires a tablet to function and is most compatible with Apple iOS tablets (iPads). While the company has certainly listened to customer feedback in this regard by providing a protective case, we would obviously prefer to have the freedom to use our own if given the chance. ![]() That said, Osmo has recently come with a special protective case designed to work with the system that you can buy separately for about $49. Kids being kids, this can lead to some fairly expensive damage without proper parental supervision, so this probably isn’t a toy you should leave your kids alone with unsupervised. While Osmo can be used by kids as young as 3, and the physical pieces are pretty safe for that age range, keep in mind that your tablet must be removed from any bulky protective casings you may have. Originally created for kids 6 and up, Osmo has recently expanded its product line to include kits and games suitable for preschoolers and kindergarteners, and so can be used by kids 3+ as well. Osmo is designed to be suitable for kids ages 3-12. Osmo kits provide a variety of physical objects and items (manipulatives) that can be picked up by the Osmo software, through a tablet, and brought to life on screen through a variety of digital games and activities that teach coding, math, reading, spatial recognition and more. Read on to see what we liked, and didn't like, about them.Limited compatibility with non-Apple devicesįounded in 2013, Osmo is a learning kit that blends hands-on play with digital games to create a unique augmented reality-based interactive learning experience for kids ages 3-11. I've spent the last week testing three new kits with the help of my enthusiastic 8-year-old daughter and skeptical 11-year-old son. Most of what's in these kits is familiar, but Osmo recently bundled its coding games together with new durable pieces and unveiled fresh cooperative and competitive word and math games to encourage families to play together. Employing the family tablet (iPad or Fire tablet) and combining physical pieces with onscreen games, this is fun learning at its best. Osmo's thoughtfully designed educational kits are different. Trust me, we have several languishing in the backs of closets. While there are tons of educational toys, apps, and games that promise to ignite a passion in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects, or improve literacy in a fun way, few of them live up to those promises. There's lots of pressure on parents to encourage kids to learn, limit their screen time to worthy content, and help them develop new skills.
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