Our Future is Bright
Unlike our Millennial Generation childhood made of no tech toys like rag dolls and plastic rainbow ponies or even low tech toys like the lite brite – today’s children will have a childhood that will consist of a powerful wealth of information, images and applications thanks to high technology. Children now younger than ever are able to successfully use tablets and smartphones (have I told you about my 18 month old successfully working my iPad yet?) and as parents on the verge of a technology evolution, instead of fighting against too much “screen time” why not embrace it? After all, technology is the wave of the future – there is no going back now – and besides, there is a boundless wealth of information to be acquired (so hop on the fast moving tech train my friends). I have always been fascinated in tech, most especially technology that has been marketed towards children. I was recently contacted by Niko Popović, co-creator of the Swingy and I jumped at the opportunity to be one of the very first people to review an innovative toy that combines “old school” physical activity with digital technology.
Gather ’round kids let’s play Swingy!
Interactive and Fun!
Husband and wife team and parents of a 6 and 3 year old sons the Popović’s have developed a innovative interactive toy named Swingy. The Swingy is the world’s first wireless balance board for playing games on your tablet or smartphone. Made of a high quality hand made beech and maple wood that can support up to 300 pounds, the Swingy was designed for kids ages 4-12 to get active and use agility while playing digital games.
Swingy in production (Photo Credit: Swingy)
Get off that couch!
The Popović’s know first hand that kids love to play video games, but as parents they didn’t like to see their kids slumped on the couch while playing (and who does?!) to alleviate this problem they have created an active alternative that gets kids up and moving while playing digital games. The Swingy has the ability to combine what kids like to do with what is good for them – and that my friends is amazing.
Build Agility!
The Swingy is a set of two hand made wood balance boards that are equipped with sensors that wirelessly connect to your tablet or smartphone to play Swingy digital games. The Swingy balance boards stimulates children to move while playing, it enhances their sense of balance and improves their coordination. Still in development, the Swingy currently offers one really fun game called “SwingPong”. My 8 year old son is quite the pro at SwingPong and it’s really neat to see him use his keen agility skills to play. During SwingPong, each of the wood balance boards controls one of the sliders on the screen while the ball bounces back and forth between them. Power-ups randomly appear on the screen in the shape of forest fruits and animals. Forest fruits give lives, increase the size of the ball or the sliders, or decrease the speed of the ball. The animals either shrink the ball or the sliders, or increase the speed of the ball.
Nothing as cool as this!
I set our Swingy up with my iPad mini and getting the Swingy sensors to connect to the app was very simple. I love this game and I am an advocate for digital technology that also provides physical activity. My children have hundreds of toys, but none as cool as the Swingy!
The Swingy game is currently only available for iPads, 3rd generation or newer (when finished, it will be available on iPhones and Android tablets/smartphones as well). The Swingy global launch will start mid-October.
Log on now to sign up to be one of the first people to get a Swingy today!
The Swingy Kickstarter has just opened!
