The past few days have given us a glimpse of what winter will be like. I see many states blanketed in snow and the temperatures are ridiculously cold. Finding engaging activities when stuck inside is challenging. It’s easy to throw on sweats or pj’s and turn on the TV. My girls love technology and they love drawing. We were recently introduced to Ozobot, an interactive robot. Ozobot teaches robotics and coding through fun, creative and social games. The perfect activity for cold, rainy or snowy days.
How Ozobot works:
Turn on your Ozobot. Let it calibrate and start playing. Ozobot comes to life when you create mazes, tracks and playgrounds on paper, game boards and digital screens. Ozobot follows a set of instructions by detecting color sequences you create. Once Ozobot recognizes the color sequences it flashes its light letting you know it read the code and continues to move.
There are several ways to play:
- You can let your child explore or create different play grounds, mazes using different codes on the FREE OzobotDraw App. There are two types of codes used. Static codes which are short color segments and Flash codes which are rapidly changing combinations of colors. You speed, direction, when to start and when to stop. You can create your own or use pre-made mazes for Ozobot.
- Your child can create their own path using markers to create various codes found here. Your child is in control and sets the boundaries as to where Ozobot goes, if it turns, speeds up, slows down, spins, and more. They can make a small maze on an index card or a large maze on a piece of computer paper. Learn how to draw and create codes in the Drawing Area.
- Print pre-published mazes on an ink-jet printer from the Print-N-Play zone.
An example of a printable activity. Image from Ozobot.com
Single box sets are available in crystal white or titanium black for $49.99. Each set includes 1 Ozobot, 1 cover skin, game & instruction cards, 1 protective carrying case, 1 micro-usb cable for charging. Purchase a set here. Also available at brookstone.com, momastore.org and amazon.com.
Our thoughts:
My girls and I enjoyed getting to know Ozobot together. They are still a little young so it’s taking us a little while to learn how to use Ozobot independently. They enjoy helping me come up with instructions for their Ozobot, especially when we add the spin and zig-zag commands. My oldest attempted to make her own mazes using markers because she LOVES to draw. At first she made the codes too thick and long. When she realized they weren’t working she made them a little smaller. My husband saw her working on it and was so amazed that our six-year was learning how to code. Our mazes are starting out simple but as we get to know Ozobot more we hope to make more complex activities and instructions for Ozobot to follow. We think Ozobot would make an amazing gift for any boy or girls this Holiday season.
Ozobot is really cool and you can make your own patterns on paper. My favorite activity was making my own maze on the paper with my markers and watching Ozobot follow. -My 6 year old
Wow, this is so cool! You have to tell my mom to get me this for Christmas! – My daughters 6-year-old friend who was over for a play date
For more information, how-to-videos, games, and more visit www.ozobot.com. Click to see Ozobot in action.
Disclaimer: I received an Ozobot single pack for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own. Information in italics (not bolded) are from ozobot.com. All images are mine unless otherwise noted.
Tastefully Childish 