Some of Our Favorite Brain-Boosting Toys for Kids of All Ages
Some of Our Favorite Brain-Boosting Toys for Kids of All Ages
我们最喜爱的一些适合各年龄段儿童的益智玩具
By testing kids’ physical and mental limits, these toys help children learn where the boundaries of their knowledge lie, and how to transcend them. Take a look at some of our favorite ways to color outside the lines. 通过测试孩子们的体能和智力极限，这些玩具能帮助他们了解自己知识的边界所在，并学会如何超越这些边界。来看看我们最喜欢的一些“不走寻常路”的创意玩具吧。
Orbita MIDI Color Sequencer
Orbita MIDI 色彩音序器
Photograph: Antosh Sergiew 摄影：Antosh Sergiew
This spinning sequencer is like musical roulette for budding ravers. Place the colored magnets anywhere on the four gray concentric rings, each of which controls a MIDI loop. Then plug the sequencer into a smartphone or computer, connect your favorite music software, and get creative. All four loops run simultaneously, with each magnet representing a different note or sound. You can adjust the pitch and mute individual loops too. Refreshingly mechanical, the Orbita makes visualizing music production child’s play. $458, playtronica.com 这款旋转音序器就像是为小小派对达人准备的音乐轮盘赌。将彩色磁铁放置在四个灰色同心圆环的任意位置，每个圆环控制一个 MIDI 循环。然后将音序器插入智能手机或电脑，连接你最喜欢的音乐软件，尽情发挥创意吧。四个循环同时运行，每个磁铁代表不同的音符或声音。你还可以调节音高并静音单个循环。Orbita 采用了令人耳目一新的机械设计，让音乐制作的可视化变得像儿戏一样简单。售价 458 美元，playtronica.com
Lego Smart Play System Pokémon Sets
乐高智能游戏系统宝可梦系列
Photograph: Antosh Sergiew 摄影：Antosh Sergiew
By combining a new smart brick with programmable NFC tags and minifigures, kids of all ages can now design and interact with Lego creations like never before. The 2- by 4-stud rechargeable smart brick is packed with a synthesizer, speaker, accelerometer, gyroscope, light and sound sensors, and LEDs. A positioning system can sense orientation between multiple smart bricks. A big bonus: Lego’s Smart Play System works entirely without attention-sucking screens. 通过将全新的智能积木与可编程 NFC 标签及人仔相结合，各年龄段的孩子们现在可以以前所未有的方式设计并与乐高作品互动。这款 2x4 凸点的可充电智能积木内置了合成器、扬声器、加速度计、陀螺仪、光线和声音传感器以及 LED 灯。定位系统可以感知多个智能积木之间的方位。一大亮点是：乐高的智能游戏系统完全不需要令人分心的屏幕。
Lego’s first Pokémon collab almost crashed the website, so surely the Danes had IT on standby when 12 new Smart Play kits came online. There are two all-in-one kits: Pikachu’s 400-piece Training House and the 751-piece Charizard-Jolteon battle, which include rechargeable smart bricks and NFC tags that can trigger lights, sounds, motion and sensing. 乐高首次与宝可梦的联名几乎挤爆了官网，所以当 12 款全新的智能游戏套装上线时，这家丹麦公司肯定让 IT 部门严阵以待。目前有两款一体化套装：400 片积木的“皮卡丘训练屋”和 751 片积木的“喷火龙对战雷伊布”，它们都包含可充电智能积木和 NFC 标签，可以触发灯光、声音、动作和感应效果。
Already got some Smart Play? The 10 other compatible kits, including Mewtwo’s Lab Break and Cubone and Gengar’s Spooky Showdown, have the tags but not the Smart Bricks. $70 and up, lego.com 已经拥有智能游戏套装了？其他 10 款兼容套装（包括“超梦的实验室突围”和“卡拉卡拉与耿鬼的幽灵对决”）配有标签，但不含智能积木。售价 70 美元起，lego.com
Stapelstein Rainbow Set
Stapelstein 彩虹套装
Courtesy of Stapelstein 图片来源：Stapelstein
Interactive adventure play done with style, the Rainbow kit features six stacking stools, a balance board, plus a host of nesting pieces that can combine to be whatever their imagination demands. Stepping-stones, wobble course, color-sorting game, toddler throne, snack tray, spinner, fort barricades or floor-is-lava upgrade. The lightweight toxin-free, 100 percent recyclable EPP pieces are waterproof, wipe clean and strong enough for adults (396 pounds limit), so don’t forget to include grandma. $299, stapelstein.com 这是一款充满时尚感的互动探险玩具，彩虹套装包含六个堆叠凳、一个平衡板，以及一系列可以根据想象力随意组合的嵌套组件。它可以是垫脚石、摇摆路径、颜色分类游戏、幼儿宝座、零食托盘、旋转器、堡垒路障，或是“地板是岩浆”游戏的升级版。这些轻便、无毒且 100% 可回收的 EPP 组件防水、易擦拭，且强度足以支撑成年人（限重 396 磅），所以别忘了带上奶奶一起玩。售价 299 美元，stapelstein.com
KidzLane Electronic Dance Mat
KidzLane 电子跳舞毯
Courtesy of Kidzlane 图片来源：Kidzlane
We can’t promise it will turn Jnr. into Fred Astaire overnight, but this impossibly good value dance mat will get your kids moving and (hopefully) tuckered out. Suitable for ages 6 to 12, it features a built-in speaker, Bluetooth and AUX so you can connect your own favorite songs, four built-in games with five difficulty levels, including a great “Simon Says” mode that gets them thinking as well as boogying. And before you ask, yes, the volume is adjustable, and batteries removable. $19, walmart.com 我们不敢保证它能让你的孩子一夜之间变成弗雷德·阿斯泰尔（舞蹈大师），但这款性价比极高的跳舞毯绝对能让孩子们动起来，并（希望如此）消耗掉他们多余的精力。它适合 6 到 12 岁的儿童，内置扬声器，支持蓝牙和 AUX 连接，你可以播放自己喜欢的歌曲。它内置了四款游戏和五个难度等级，包括一个很棒的“西蒙说”模式，让孩子们在跳舞的同时也能动脑筋。在你问之前先说明：是的，音量可调，电池可拆卸。售价 19 美元，walmart.com
Takway Sweekar
Takway Sweekar 电子宠物
Courtesy of Takway.AI 图片来源：Takway.AI
Oh good, it’s a reimagined Tamagotchi, but instead of a few beepy-bleeps and button presses to keep it alive, Sweekar has loaded it with generative AI and given it a long-term memory, evolving dialog and “personality.” We’re sure it’ll be fine, and neglect won’t result in a lawsuit when the Robots finally take over, but for now we suggest erring on the side of caution and make sure the kids care for it carefully through Egg、Baby、Teen, and Adult stages. The 89-gram pocket pet also simulates body warmth and breathing, which isn’t creepy at all. $149, takway.ai 太好了，这是一款重构版的电子宠物（Tamagotchi）。不同于以往只需按几个按钮、听几声哔哔声来维持生命，Sweekar 搭载了生成式 AI，拥有长期记忆、进化的对话能力和“个性”。我们相信一切都会好起来的，当机器人最终接管世界时，疏于照顾也不会导致诉讼。但目前我们建议还是谨慎行事，确保孩子们能细心照顾它经历从蛋、婴儿、青少年到成年的各个阶段。这个 89 克的口袋宠物还能模拟体温和呼吸，一点也不吓人。售价 149 美元，takway.ai
Looi Robot
Looi 机器人
Courtesy of TangibleFuture 图片来源：TangibleFuture
LOOI turns your smartphone into a chirpy little tank-like desk robot, using the screen as its face and the camera, mic and processor as its brain. Snap on your phone (minimum iOS 17+, or Android 12+), open the app and, powered by ChatGPT, it can chat, remember preferences, react to touch and gestures, play motion games, avoid desk edges and make funny faces. It also doubles as a 10-watt wireless charger and adjustable phone stand, which makes it marginally more helpful than your last assistant—although it can’t, as yet, make the coffee. $239, looirobot.com LOOI 能将你的智能手机变成一个活泼的坦克状桌面机器人，利用屏幕作为它的脸，摄像头、麦克风和处理器作为它的大脑。装上手机（最低 iOS 17+ 或 Android 12+），打开应用程序，在 ChatGPT 的驱动下，它可以聊天、记住偏好、对触摸和手势做出反应、玩动作游戏、避开桌面边缘并做出滑稽的表情。它还可以兼作 10 瓦无线充电器和可调节手机支架，这让它比你上一任助理稍微有用那么一点点——尽管它目前还不会煮咖啡。售价 239 美元，looirobot.com
Crocs Super Mario Core Classic Clog
Crocs 超级马力欧经典洞洞鞋
Courtesy of Crocs 图片来源：Crocs
As hyped as a Supreme x Louis Vuitton collaboration, just a whole lot more fun, the Crocs Mushroom Kingdom takeover is a joyous celebration of polyethylene vinyl acetate footwear. The Core Classic Clog, available in adult and kids’ sizes features a detailed graphic print with classic in-game items like coins, Super Stars, and Green Shells, while the sole is wrapped in dimensional detailing resembling the green pipes and grassy terrain. And, naturally, each pair comes with Super Mushroom outer rivets, a “?” Block badge on the backstrap, and eight Jibbitz charms featuring Mario and Luigi. $70, crocs.com 其热度堪比 Supreme x Louis Vuitton 的联名，但要有趣得多。Crocs 对“蘑菇王国”的接管是对乙烯基醋酸乙烯酯（EVA）鞋履的一次欢乐庆典。这款经典洞洞鞋提供成人和儿童尺码，鞋面印有硬币、超级星星和绿龟壳等经典游戏道具的精细图案，鞋底则包裹着类似绿色水管和草地的立体细节。当然，每一双鞋都配有超级蘑菇铆钉、后跟带上的“？”砖块徽章，以及八个马力欧和路易吉主题的智必星（Jibbitz）装饰。售价 70 美元，crocs.com
Gibson x Loog Les Paul
Gibson x Loog Les Paul 电吉他
Courtesy of Loog 图片来源：Loog
Loog has been making fine learn-to-play guitars for more than 10 years, and its intuitive three-string axes make it easier for anyone to learn the basics before transitioning up to a full fretboard. After a successful partnership with Fender, they’ve now teamed up with Gibson to produce a mini electric guitar in either classic SG—putting the young in AC-DC’s Angus Young’s favorite axe—or with the iconic Les Paul curves shown here. And before you ask, these are proper instruments, with a solid poplar body, Canadian neck, rosewood fingerboard, single coil pick-up and 19 finger-friendly 1.8 mm frets. $229, loogguitars.com Loog 制造优质入门吉他已有十多年历史，其直观的三弦设计让任何人都能在过渡到全尺寸指板前轻松掌握基础知识。在与 Fender 成功合作后，他们现在又与 Gibson 联手推出了一款迷你电吉他，提供经典的 SG 款（AC/DC 乐队 Angus Young 最爱的吉他造型）或如图所示的标志性 Les Paul 曲线款。在你问之前先说明，这些都是真正的乐器，采用实心杨木琴体、加拿大枫木琴颈、玫瑰木指板、单线圈拾音器以及 19 个对手指友好的 1.8 毫米品丝。售价 229 美元，loogguitars.com
Woom Wow Balance Bike
Woom Wow 平衡车
Courtesy of Woom 图片来源：Woom
The perfect buy if your bambino has nailed the art of sitting and standing independently, and you want more chaotic fun and adventure in your life. This self-centering, self-balancing bike is designed for kids as young as 9 months (from 28 to 40 inches in height). It gives them a chance to become the next big name on Red Bull’s MotoGP roster before they’ve even realized that broccoli isn’t actually fun little trees. 如果你的宝宝已经掌握了独立坐立的技巧，而你又想让生活多一些混乱的乐趣和冒险，那么这款产品是完美之选。这款具有自动对中和自动平衡功能的自行车专为 9 个月大的幼儿（身高 28 到 40 英寸）设计。在他们还没意识到西兰花其实不是好玩的“小树”之前，这辆车就能让他们有机会成为红牛 MotoGP 车队未来的大明星。