Sago Mini Babies
By Mieke VanderBorght,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Play caregiver and practice empathy with responsive babies.
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Sago Mini Babies
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Based on 1 parent review
Amazing
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What’s It About?
In SAGO MINI BABIES, kids choose their baby from the four Sago Mini animal characters, then tap either side of the screen to make the baby crawl along. Stars indicate the eight activities: feeding, drinking, bathing, dressing up, dancing, diaper changing, playing with blocks, and swinging. As kids interact with each baby in these activities, the baby's facial expression changes according to how it feels about the toy that's been chosen or food being offered. Babies will even start crying if their needs aren't met.
Is It Any Good?
Playing with these super cute, highly responsive virtual babies can be fun and satisfying and offers both pros and cons over real-life pretend play. As is usually the case with Sago Sago apps, graphics are simplistic but appealing, and play is easy and open-ended. The activity types are right on for presenting realistic ways that caregivers -- and kids pretending to be caregivers -- interact with babies. As opposed to the passive baby dolls that slump over and take whatever kids throw at them, these babies make their preferences and needs known, and kids can practice reading those needs and acting accordingly. Yet when kids play with real baby dolls, there are infinite possibilities, and they're in charge; in the app, many things are scripted for them. Also, without a physical doll to hug, there's no coverage of that all-important basic need for love and affection between baby and caregiver. Still, Sago Mini Babies wins points for responsiveness and overall appeal and adds fun elements to pretend play.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about baby's needs and responses. What does baby want now, why is it crying, does it like that toy? What are some other things that babies need that don't appear in this app (for example, love and affection)?
Play with your kids and help them make up narrative stories about the babies. Ask open-ended questions to encourage kids to think about what they're doing.
Encourage lots of pretend play off the screen. Let kids play on their own so they're completely in charge, and play with them to suggest new perspectives.
Share stories about when your kid was a baby as you play together.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Skills: Emotional Development: empathy, perspective taking, Responsibility & Ethics: learning from consequences
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: October 8, 2015
- Category: Education
- Publisher: Sago Sago
- Version: 1.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 6.0 or later; Android 4.0.3 and up
- Last updated: January 23, 2019
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