Many parents today have mixed feelings about the relationship between their kids and technology. On one hand, we know our children will need familiarity with all kinds of new tech when they enter the workforce, and boy, it sure is nice to get ten minutes to go to the bathroom alone while your kid plays on the iPad. On the other, with more and more screens available to kids, at what point are we sacrificing one-on-one interaction for more time in front of a machine? Does new tech provide new opportunities, or simply new distractions? We thought of all these questions when we discovered the newly launched Sifteo Game Cubes.
SIfteo Cubes are a bit like a set of three mini iPods that work together. Each cube is a mere 1 1/2" square and only 1/2" tall. They communicate wirelessly with each other, allowing each to detect the others and even to know which side is pointing which way. Like many smart phones, they also have highly reactive tilt sensors, and their screens react to touch.
What happens when you put three (or more) of these cubes together are myriad combinations of games. The entire system is envisioned as a new gaming platform, but already the games available range from fun, silly adult fare to educational games aimed at young kids. Take, for example, one of the current offerings called "The Cogwell Twins and the Amazing Alpha-Matic." It's designed for 4 - 6 year olds, and it requires that kids identify letters and their sounds in order to help the titular characters build various machines. Or "Mount Brainiac," an "app" designed for 5 - 8 year olds where kids spell words and complete math problems to help characters advance.
The concept is innovative and, well, just plain fun and cool. But are we in danger of being seduced by the next new thing instead of evaluating the inherent benefit of this technology for our kids? Or is it ok to simply get a new toy for fun's sake? Does our kids' interaction with screens always have to be based in education?
We'd love to know what you think. Sound off in the comments!
Read more about Sifteo at The New York Times and Sifteo's site.
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Wow I let my 2 yo come with me to the bathroom I want her to become familiar with the potty. We as a family don't own an ipad, ipod, or any other gizmo, though we do have an xbox that is daddy's, and I certainly wouldn't buy one just to entertain my kids. I see people drive around with the movie going in the car. What's wrong with looking out the window or a book? Even if I did have an ipad I am certainly not going to let my kids touch it. We save up our money to make big purchases since we don't believe in credit cards. Books, blocks, crayons, hot wheels and play food is what my kids love.
wow, those look amazing! They are kind of expensive and Im not sure they would hold the attention of my 4 year old but I like the idea.
bluepuppybites, good for you for not believing in credit cards. If you don't pay them off they can cause real financial hardship. But you should really get an ipod. It will change your life.
I had an ipod, it broke haven't replaced it yet at least I had it right after having a baby made sitting on my bum nursing a whole lot easier!
Why must every single article about a gadget come with this requisite hand-wringing about screens/no screens?! If you don't do electronics for your kids, skip the article. If you do, read it and enjoy it without having to slog through the guilt-inducing preamble.
Wow! It's nice that you bring your two year old to the bathroom with you, I do too. Sometimes (say every 28 days or so), I'd rather not and having something to distract her (yes even if that something involves a screen) is handy.
"Sanctimomminess" aside, this game requires that you be near your computer? That certainly removes a lot of the appeal for me. Why not just use the computer?
@bluepuppybites - Books, blocks, crayons, Hot Wheels and play food is what my son loves. He also loves my iPod, the computer and occasionally (shock horror!) a movie or two...
Everything in moderation.
Thanks so much for writing about Sifteo cubes! We will add a link to this article on our press page.
I am the Director of Marketing for Sifteo, as well as the mother of a 16month old girl, so I hear you on the technology/child development concerns. I think Sifteo handles this really well by focusing on what we call Intelligent Play. All Sifteo games are activities you can feel good about playing because they exercise various thinking and learning skills. I hope you'll check it out!
Laurie