If youโre a parent, like me, constantly on the hunt for toys that are as educational as they are fun, youโve probably come across Edurinoโs learning sets. I was recently drawn to the Edurino Starter Set featuring the character โLeo,โ which aims to help young children explore and understand their emotions. Given that my five-year-old, N, has been navigating some big feelings lately, it felt like a timely addition to our playtime routine.
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Whatโs Inside the Box?
The starter set comes with a beautifully crafted figurine of Leo, a friendly lion character, a stylus pen designed for small hands, and a special game download that introduces your child to the Edurino universe. The set is compatible with most tablets, creating a blended physical and digital learning experience.
Getting Started: Setup and First Impressions
Setting up was straightforward. All you need is the app, a figurine and the pen contained in the starter set. The provided QR code guided us through the app download, and Leo came to life quickly on our screen. N was immediately enchanted by Leoโs approachable personality and the vibrant, engaging graphics. As a parent, I appreciated how intuitive the app interface wasโthere was no steep learning curve, which kept the frustration factor for N (and for me) at zero.
A Focus on Emotional Learning
Leoโs storyline centers on helping children identify, understand, and express their emotions. Each activity is carefully curated to help young minds recognize different feelingsโ joy, anger, fear, sadness, surprise and disgust. Using this as a basis, they will build up their own emotional vocabulary in order to correctly name their own feelings and those of others.
We played with this together at first and talked about the different emotions and how to recognise and acknowledge them. I love how it was helping him to recognise big emotions without being a noticeable education experience - he really was learning through play.
Quality and Appeal
The Leo figurine itself is sturdy, well-made, and pleasant to hold. N enjoyed playing with it even when the app was off, incorporating Leo into imaginative play. The stylus was a clever touch, helping N practice grip and control in a way that felt natural. From a parentโs perspective, I noticed that it subtly worked on fine motor skills while making the digital experience more tactile.
Learning Outcomes
After a few sessions, N demonstrated a noticeable improvement in his ability to articulate emotions. He now confidently labels feelings like โfrustratedโ or โexcitedโ during our day-to-day activities. For a five-year-old, this feels like a significant milestone, and I credit Edurino for making these complex ideas accessible and fun to grasp.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Engaging Storyline & Characters: Leo is relatable, with an age-appropriate storyline that captivated my childโs attention.
- Educational Focus: The emphasis on emotional literacy is a refreshing change from purely academic content and has genuine value for social-emotional development.
- Quality Build: Durable figurine and a comfortable, child-friendly stylus.
- Blended Experience: The mix of physical and digital play kept N engaged longer than most toys. I also liked how it had built in screen time which was done in a really positive way. I can set how much time I wanted N to be able to play and the app warned him gently when it was coming up to the limit.
- Screen time: I also liked how it had built in screen time which was done in a really positive way. I can set how much time I wanted N to be able to play and the app warned him gently when it was coming up to the limit.
- Add ons: You can buy separate figurines to expand your set which is a great idea and you could always ask friends or family to buy one as a birthday or Christmas present - that way your child is getting something you know they will use.
- Portable: I love how portable this is - simply pack the figurine and pen and you can use most tablets or iPads to use the app when you are on the go.
Cons:
โข Limited Offline Play: While Leo is great for imaginative scenarios, the full value of the set is in its integration with the app. Children who donโt have much screen time might find it less rewarding.
โข Price Point: Itโs on the pricier side as a starter set for ยฃ44.99. While the value is undeniable, it might feel like a bit of a stretch for some families.
Is It Worth It?
In my experience, yesโespecially if youโre looking for a meaningful gift that goes beyond the basics of colors, numbers, and letters. The Edurino Starter Set with Leo offers a rich, guided approach to social-emotional learning that feels relevant and deeply impactful. Watching N connect with Leo, express his own feelings, and navigate scenarios in the game brought a level of growth I hadnโt seen from other educational toys.
Edurino makes an excellent gift for the little person in your life! Don't forget there are other figurines to collect, and each one covers a different subject, including Maths & Shapes, Phonics, Creativity, Coding, Nature, My Body and Words.
If youโre hoping to nurture empathy, self-expression, and emotional resilience in your childโwhile having plenty of funโthis starter set with Leo might be a great fit for your home too.
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