Like many 4-year-olds, my son is stubborn. He’ll do his best to distract and resist basic activities, like getting in the bath, brushing his teeth, and lying down for bed. The Skylight Buddy—the new kids’ device from the makers of the popular digital calendar—promised to engage him and keep him on a schedule without me needing to nag.
I was dubious that the Skylight Buddy could make good on its claims. The device is designed for kids 4 to 10, and because my son only recently turned 4, I figured he’d probably still be a little young for it. Also, regardless of age, empowering little kids to autonomously stick to their routines and chores is a tall order. However, after almost two weeks of testing, my son has been so excited to use this device and complete the tasks it shows him.
The Skylight Buddy works by reminding my son of his morning and evening routines, like brushing his teeth. It uses both words and picture icons, which is crucial because he can’t read yet. Now, his favorite part of the day is when the device congratulates him on his completed tasks at bedtime. While some features are paywalled, you don’t absolutely have to subscribe for your kids to enjoy the Skylight Buddy. Plus, there’s no microphone or camera in the device, making it a safe addition for a kid’s bedroom. It also works seamlessly with Skylight’s digital calendars if you happen to already use one in your home.
Meet Buddy
Photograph: Nena Farrell
The Skylight Buddy sits at just under 7.5 inches tall, with a 1024 x 600 resolution touchscreen. It has a big, yellow half-circle “select” button and volume controls on the top. There are two speakers (one on each side of the device), and the bottom base doubles as a dim night-light. The only other included piece is a power cord that isn’t particularly long, so you’ll need to place it on a tabletop near an outlet in your child’s room. You can also add on a silicone case ($20) if you’re worried about your kid knocking it off the table (or you want to give it a pop of color, as the cover comes in purple, green, and blue, while the device itself only comes in white).
