Osmo Tangram
By Amanda Bindel,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic puzzler combines toys and digital play.
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Osmo Tangram
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What’s It About?
TANGRAM FOR OSMO is a hybrid toy that bridges tactile and digital play. First, kids choose from Easy, Medium, or Hard levels; Harder can be unlocked after four Hard puzzles have been completed. Kids arrange the seven shapes in front of the game system to match the image on the device. As kids place a piece correctly, it shows up in color on the screen. If kids get stuck, they can get a hint, but they have to pay for them with points. Pictures of completed puzzles decorate the map, making a story of the play journey, and kids earn achievements as they complete different missions.
Is It Any Good?
Classic puzzle play goes beyond the digital age with this smart, impressive hybrid toy. Though young kids can play and learn with these tangrams, there's no age limit on the challenging fun. Kids can choose to jump around challenge levels until they find the one that's just right for them, and with hundreds of puzzles, there's plenty to explore. The way the screen plays out like a story -- with the solved puzzles taking their place along the path -- adds some extra fun, and kids who want to add some self-driven competition can work to unlock the achievements. Parents will find support and community forums online if they create an Osmo account. Really, the whole Osmo system is impressive: From the neat magnetic packaging to the sensitive, responsive technology, this is a game system that will bring fun and learning without taking up lots of space, as it blends with an existing device.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the shapes, naming them for younger kids. They also can manipulate them off the device to create different shapes and patterns.
Talk to kids about the background of tangrams. The dissection puzzle game invented in China always includes seven shapes: two small triangles, two large triangles, one medium triangle, one square, and one parallelogram.
Find shapes in the natural world and encourage kids to name and draw them.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Math: geometry, shapes
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: part-whole relationships, solving puzzles, Tech Skills: using and applying technology, Health & Fitness: fine motor skills
- Pricing structure: Free (Requires Osmo game system, which retails for $79.99.)
- Release date: October 7, 2015
- Category: Educational Games
- Publisher: Tangible Play Inc
- Version: 2.5.16
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.0 or later
- Last updated: November 19, 2018
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