First Fröbel, Then Montessori, Now Osmo Is Re-inventing the Way Preschoolers Learn with New-age Building Blocks

Osmo’s Little Genius Starter Kit combines AI technology with classic learning methods for a holistic learning system for preschoolers from the world’s largest ed-tech company.

PALO ALTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The fundamentals of preschool literacy learning were unchanged for nearly 100 years, despite significant research furthering understanding of how children learn and radical technological advancements. Today, Osmo, the company behind a new category of seamless, digital and hands-on play for ages 5-12 in 30,000-plus U.S. elementary classrooms, is bringing innovation to preschoolers with the release of the Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit.

Osmo’s Little Genius Starter Kit was created with Marbotic, a European technology leader in creating playful experiences for early learners.

The innovation of Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit combines Friedrich Froebel’s and Maria Montessori’s manipulatives of proven hands-on play with advanced computer vision for highly engaging experiences. To develop this “tangible” learning experience, Osmo used its AI technology and design-based research. The result is a system for ages 3-5 that nurtures core developmental skills including: vocabulary, letters, emotions, problem solving, and creative confidence.

See how it works here: https://youtu.be/0K62LdmZopY

“On the heels of being acquired by BYJU’s, we focused on filling a critical gap in the market,” said Pramod Sharma, Co-founder of Osmo. “Since the release of our original Genius Kit, we’ve received many inquiries from parents asking if we had something similar for their younger child… so we went to work.”

Literacy skills for 21st century learners

Research shows that while e-books and online ABC apps can be engaging for children, they can sometimes hinder learning. Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit ignites early learning through these core, hands-on experiences:

• Tangible ABC’s – Playful practice for pre-readers. Build letters with squishy, colorful sticks & rings. Over 500 vocabulary words.
• Squiggle Magic – Create anything you want using sticks and rings and they come alive on the screen! Learn vocabulary, build artistic confidence, and develop fine motor skills.
• Costume Party – Experiment with clothes and colors to make costumes, then watch the characters react!
• Stories – Hours of problem-solving fun. Mix and match costumes to find silly solutions to obstacles and navigate adventures.

The academic research behind the system debuts at the 2019 ACM Interaction Design and Children conference, presented by Osmo’s Dr. Heidy Maldonaldo.

“We want to bring preschool learning to the 21st century by merging Froebel’s and Montessori’s proven educational manipulatives with adaptability and personalization for digital applications,” said Maldonaldo.

Osmo is beloved by kids, parents, and teachers in more than one million households worldwide.

Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit is available for pre-order today on Amazon and select retailers over the coming weeks – at $79. To order or get more information about the company visit: www.playosmo.com.

About Osmo

Osmo is building a universe of hands-on play experiences that nourish the minds of children by unleashing the power of imagination. Osmo brings physical toys into the digital world through augmented reality and its proprietary reflective artificial intelligence.

Founded in 2013 by ex-Google engineers Pramod Sharma and Jerome Scholler, the Osmo Play System fuses digital gameplay and physical interaction to create fun, nutritious play experiences designed for all kids. Osmo spans twelve titles, including Super Studio, Coding Awbie, and Masterpiece, respectively teaching creativity, computer science, and drawing.

Osmo is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Join the fun at PlayOsmo.com

About Marbotic

Marbotic is a leader in creating playful experiences for early learners. Teaching pre-reading skills and develop preschoolers’ imagination in a cheerful environment, this is their thing! Learn more: http://www.marbotic.fr/

Contacts

Karen O’Dell

osmogroup@golin.com