Screen time is at an all time high in this household. And it probably will be for awhile. Between Zoom meetings, school assignments, extra-curricular lessons, and of course the kids’ entertainment…my screen time rules are simply out the window. BUT I do try my best to limit all the other “unnecessary” screen time and keep it healthy with programs that my boys will benefit from. That’s why I am loving Osmo!
Osmo is a system that help your kids learn through PLAY.
With games that provide different levels of difficulty to grow with your kids. It’s a Win-Win for parents with multiple kids because you can create different accounts and the kids get to pick their own avatar – it was a tuff decision for my boys – so many fun ones to choose from!
Osmo makes hands-on learning games in which players use objects in the real world to interact with the digital world shown on their iPad or Fire tablets. It literally mixes digital and physical play.
Most Osmo games are designed for ages 5–12. Monster and Super Studio are appropriate for ages 4+.
Osmo
What you’ll need
Before you get an Osmo, you’ll need a compatible device that’s connected to the internet. It works with most iPads and Amazon Fire tablets. Here’s the full list of compatible devices:
Compatible iPads: iPad 2, iPad (3rd Generation), iPad (4th Generation), iPad (5th Generation), iPad (6th Generation), iPad (7th Generation), iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 4, iPad Mini 5, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3, and the 9.7-inch and 10.5-inch iPad Pro. Osmo is currently NOT compatible with the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The minimum iOS version needed is iOS 9.
Compatible Fire Tablets: 7th Generation Fire 7, 7th Generation Fire HD 8, 7th Generation Fire HD10, 8th Generation Fire HD 8, 9th Generation Fire 7, 9th Generation Fire HD 10
But be sure to visit the website for the latest info: www.playosmo.com
You’ll also need the appropriate base and red reflector for your device. Every Osmo kit includes the Osmo Base and Reflector for either iPad or Amazon Fire tablet.
I highly recommend starting with one of their kits.
Osmo Genius Starter Kit
Okay, I’m just gonna say it…this is a great system to have. My kids and I love it! The starter kit comes with everything you’ll need: base, reflector…and 5 Game Apps. along with 7 Tangram pieces, 40 Number Tiles, 52 Words Tiles, and 3 Stackable Storage. Oh! I forgot to mention, you will have to download the games via Apps. Each game as its own Game App. Don’t worry if this sounds confusing, it’s really easy connect (I didn’t need my son’s help).
The recommended ages are 6-10, which is great for Caiden, who’s 9. Ronan just turned 5 and he’s loving the challenge, especially with Tangram. There’s over 500 visual puzzles to arrange with the wooden pieces. With those same pieces, the kids have fun with engineering in Newton.
FYI, for younger kids, there’s the brand-new Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit, which includes four games designed specifically for kids ages 3–5. These games teach pre-reading, storytelling and fine motor skill development.
There’s also Words, where Caiden (Ronan is too young for this) has to guess and spell hidden words with the physical tiles. And in the Numbers game, they are really loving the challenge! And finally there’s Masterpiece. This is where you draw anything or on a blank sheet of paper to improve your drawing skills. And because it’s Osmo – there’s a video playback of your drawing that you can save!
Mickey Mouse & Friends Super Studio
This is a favorite of ours! The kids create Disney magic with step-by-step instructions on how to draw the scenes. My boys have their fun and get creative – opting not to follow all the instructions. Then we watch the story come to life in animation. It’s super cute.
There’s so much more fun and educational games that Osmo offers. Visit www.playosmo.com for more info. And thank you Osmo for gifting these – all opinions are my own.
Stay safe and healthy!
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