Top 5 Toys for Learning Skills to Stay on Top of a World Full of Artificial Intelligence
It’s a brave, bold new world out there, and the way our children interact with it is vastly different then our own childhood. With society brimming with artificial intelligence and grand new technologies, it’s smart to prepare your child for this new landscape by introducing them to toys and games that familiarize them with our high-tech world and teach them how they can be a part of it. From building their own robot friends to virtual reality, there is a world full of engaging and stimulating toys that will make you wish you were a kid again too!
View Master Virtual Reality Starter Park by Mattel
Cost: $29.99
Not the View Master of your childhood, this modern version offers a 3D immersive virtual reality experience. By downloading the related app onto a smartphone, children can dive into a 360-degree virtual landscape where new sights are around every virtual corner. 3D menus allow your child to choose what they want to visit, such as outer space, destinations, and wildlife, as well as videos, fun facts, images and games. It’s a great tool for encouraging imagination and an understanding of new, developing technologies.
Cost: $29.99
This innovative board game is designed to teach kids how to build a working circuit, while encouraging sequence and logic building skills. Children arrange tokens to build circuits that light up multi colored beacons. It’s the perfect game for budding engineers and children who enjoy logic games. With 60 challenges of varying degrees of difficulty, this electrical engineering game offers fresh challenges that will keep the mind sharp and engaged.
Cost: $124.99
For the ultimate introduction to immersive A.I. comes the MeccaNoid G15 KS — the robotic friend your child builds. With over 1100+ pieces, your child will learn how to assemble their very own 4-foot tall robot who comes with over a thousand pre-programmed words, phrases, comebacks, jokes, games and even voice recognition. The robot can move its head, legs, feet, arms, and hands in realistic movements, and can even mirror your child’s own movements back to them with the assistance of a smart phone. This toy is a surefire way to help your child feel like a genuine inventor while also providing countless hours of entertainment and fun.
Cost: $124.99
Cozmo is another robotic companion, but with an emphasis on being playful, quirky, and cute. The robot comes pre-assembled and ready to play a variety of games with your child. Its little face comes to life on a screen and can express various emotions and feelings from joy and interest to frustration and confusion; fitting for a little robot programmed with a mischievous personality. The way the robot moves and interacts almost makes it feel like a little pet, and indeed Cozmo needs to be cared for like a pet, letting your child know when it needs a tune up, to be fed, or if it’s bored and would like to play. In addition to playing games, Cozmo can also perform tricks, sing songs, and is smart enough to know to avoid ledges that can lead to long falls. It’s a great interactive little toy that will teach your children about the world of A.I. while also keeping them entertained.
Aura Drone with Glove Controller by KD Interactive
Cost: $79.99
Drones are already a popular toy for kids, who love to take them outside and watch them zoom through the air — but now there’s a drone that’s even more interactive. The Aura Drone is controlled by a glove, allowing your child to feel like a superhero as they use gestures to move the drone through the sky. Kids can make the drone fly forwards, backwards, up, down, and even perform tricks in the air. In addition, the drone comes with a great built-in safety frame, that protects it (and you) from damage.
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Are you looking for something amazing for your child to do this summer in Minneapolis that will be fun and excite their creativity? Mind Foundry is providing Summer Camp sessions at sites throughout Minneapolis. Our engaging camps this summer include Robotix, Wings Academy, Intelligent Cities, Deep Sea Explorers, and Computing Cafe. To read more details, please check out our Summer course catalog.
Camps run Monday — Friday 9am — 3pm at a cost of $250 per week. Before and after care available. Discounts available for siblings as well as for multiple weeks.
Mind Foundry is committed to providing accessible, high-quality 21st century learning to all. Limited scholarships and sliding scale pricing available to those that qualify. Register your child, using this link, and get started with Mind Foundry summer camps, today!
