So, it seems that kids are coding today. Wild. Coding is a great skill for kids to learn, but it can be a lonely, sedentary endeavor. Hackaball, a new toy created from a partnership between the design agencies MAP and Made By Many, promises to get kids off their butts and playing outside – all while teaching basic coding skills and empowering them to invent their own kind of play.
This product, of course, had to be meticulously designed. The ball is bigger than a baseball but smaller than a soccer ball, and it comes with several simple parts that can be put together using basic instructions, so kids understand what's inside and can start creating from the get-go. Once it's put together, the toy can glow different colors, make noises, and even vibrate. As for how to use it – the kids get to decide. Using a space-themed app, kids write “if-then” rules, learning the syntax of basic coding.
One of the key goals of Hackaball is to make kids feel like they can be creators. It encourages kids to take charge with their creativity and learn while playing. If your child is an awesome little brainiac, they can exercise their intellect and not be stuck indoors alone.
Coding is an extremely valuable skill to have today, and honing it early on is the way things are going. However, allowing kids to still be kids – even though they’re discovering something intricate – is a best practice that should be top of mind. Thanks to Hackaball, this is possible!
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