Sago Mini Toolbox
Sago Mini Toolbox gallery
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Sago Mini Toolbox is another offering from the Sago Sago team. Like all their apps, this is a very simple, highly interactive game designed for young kids. In this installment, kids use virtual tools to build various projects: It's important to note that kids need decent fine motor skills to manipulate the tools. One character farts as it waits to be tapped on to build a project -- kids will likely find this hilarious.What kids can learn
Playing with tools and making things has high appeal for kids. Sound effects and visuals are satisfying. No opportunity to interact with finished projects, and a limited number of projects may disappoint.
Building projects introduce different tools and their functions. Kids interact with tools and get a basic sense of what the tools do.
There are purposefully no instructions -- play is accessible, open, and easy. There's also no way to document finished products or progress through building projects. A letter from the developer gives some background and learning extension ideas.
What's it about?
To begin using SAGO MINI TOOLBOX, scroll through 15 projects and tap to start building. Drill holes with a power drill, use a ruler to mark where to make cuts on a piece of wood, twirl a wrench around to tighten bolts, or hammer in nails. To make each tool work, kids will tap, drag, swipe and hold. Then celebrate the completed project and a job well done with the super cute characters. Projects include fixing a tricycle and inflating the tires, building a doghouse, putting together a swing set, and more.
Is it any good?
Sago Mini Toolbox will definitely draw kids in and give them some simulated time with tools, but it's a bit lacking in logic and depth. It features the impossibly cute family of Sago Sago characters, and has many interactive features, sounds, and visual effects that are sure to delight and satisfy young kids. Kids will get a kick out of using power tools like saws and power drills that they're likely not allowed to handle in real life and will love virtually making things. However, tool interactions seem illogical and divorced from the final result, which kids can't play with. An explicit connection between each step and the final project might make the creation seem less magical but would add a more grounded sense of accomplishment. And, why not let kids play with, or at least take a picture of what they built? This app is fun and easy to use; little kids will likely love it and will get some satisfaction from using tools. Yet there are some missed opportunities to make this a richer experience.
Families can talk about...
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Families can talk about the names of the tools and what each tool does. Help kids see the big picture and talk about why each tool is useful for that particular project.
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Read the notes from the developer for discussion tips and inspiration for making connections.
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Direct building projects with kids. Let kids help in as many ways as they can from designing, to building, to enjoying the final product.
App details
| Devices: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Price: | $2.99 |
| Pricing structure: | Paid |
| Release date: | May 14, 2015 |
| Category: | Education |
| Size: | 95.20 MB |
| Publisher: | Sago Sago |
| Version: | 1.2 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 6.0 or later |
