I was really impressed with how well-made and durable all the Osmo parts are. While we teach our boys to treat what we own carefully, I love when something is durable and feels like it will actually hold up to normal wear and tear. Update: 6 years later, and it’s still going strong!

The above picture for example is telling Awbie to move up 2 spaces to get to the chest. It only took a couple of goes for my son to understand what needed to be done.

Mashable is a registered trademark of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without express written permission.

Created by a team from TIDAL Lab at Northwestern University, Osmo Coding Starter Kit is inspired by over 50 years of research into computer programming education to keep kids engaged for endless hours! The drawing app was okay (one of my boys enjoyed playing it once). But I didn’t love that it just involved staring at the screen, and didn’t involve a ton of creativity. Beyond enabling kids to remain equipped to face the digital world, why is teaching kids to code so important? Here are a few reasons why:The Word game involved a lot of guessing and it seemed so random what pictures and words they had. My son who is learning how to read was just confused and my older son who can read was easily bored by it. The increasing difficulty ensures that kids stay interested and are challenged appropriately throughout the levels of the game. Why Play? I am always keeping an eye out for the latest and greatest coding games and best coding apps for kids. Some of you may remember the review I did a while ago on Osmo’s Coding Jam. Well, Osmo has other coding activities out there, like Osmo Coding Awbie, and it is just as wonderful and educational. What is Coding Awbie? If no one answers the door when our courier attempts delivery they'll leave a card letting you know they've been and which of the following actions they've taken As Awbie collects berries, finds his pets, and earns plants for his garden, kids will find that the levels increase in difficulty. Awbie will be asked to jump over water, skip over lily-pads, and go up or down steps.

We tested the Osmo Coding Kit because it was one of 2022's hottest toys. A 10-year-old played with the kit for a couple weeks to test it out. Did you know that creating a routine for your child is like familiarizing your child with the concept of algorithms? It’s true! As you know, every algorithm consists of specific steps that result in a positive or negative outcome. Similarly, if you always follow a specific routine, it’s always going to result in the same outcome.And we haven’t personally tried this, but they now even have full learning kits by grade level. If we end up trying one of these out, I’ll make sure I update this post with our review. This was a super fun game that all three of my boys loved. It involved not just learning adding in different ways, but also planning ahead to create combos. It’s another game that progresses well with levels.

Update: Woohoo, Osmo now makes an ipad case that works with their setup! Just make sure you buy the right size. When we first got our Osmo, the base and add-ons all came in this beautiful, handy boxes that were magnetic so they stayed together beautifully. I don’t think that’s true anymore, though it looks like the base kit comes with some small storage containers. If you’re having a hard time keeping it all organized, Osmo now has a separate storage organizer. Should you get the Osmo? Another update: As of 2023, there are newer versions of the drawing apps that are phenomenal! My daughter got one (the Disney Princess Super Studio) for her birthday this year, and it was so cool to watch her not only learn to draw, but to watch her creations come to life. Seeing how Osmo has continued to advance their tech and apps, I’d happily try more of their drawing add-ons at this point. What I Recommend in 2023: The level could have been completed without this map though. But when he saw his score after this round he was most impressed. Play Osmo ReviewCoding is therefore an essential 21-st century skill for kids of all ages, and can even pave the way for academic success. The earlier you introduce your child to core programming skills, the better! This is an absolutely brilliant game and he had no idea he was actually learning, which is always a bonus! I cannot recommend this highly enough it is fabulous. Grab your Osmo game here. Coding doesn’t need to be taught online. It can be taught through screen-free means that can prove to be just as fun! As you know, kids learn the best through movement and play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of interactive, simple coding games for kids that teach core programming skills through play. The Osmo base can either fit an iPhone or an IPad by easily changing the base around. There are details showing how to do this. The best coding games for kids are those that blend learning and fun! In this delicious learning game, you are the robot and your child is the programmer. They would need to design algorithms and provide you with the steps to make an easy meal! Remember, one wrong instruction and they need to debug the entire process!