Alamo City Moms Blog has partnered with PopUp Play, a new playtime experience that combines technology with real-life play.
Like most mothers, I have a love-hate relationship with technology, especially when it comes to my children. Experts give so much advice on how much screen time is too much. I often push those limits just to avoid the “I’m bored” whining, and touchscreen devices are oh-so-handy for keeping the kids entertained while I cook dinner or need some quiet time. However, part of me longs for my kids to experience childhood as I did in the pre-touchscreen era, when hands-on building and creativity were key to playtime. I worry that they will not develop the imaginative part of their brains that is nurtured by outdoor play, arts & crafts, and verbal connection. Thus, finding a happy medium between technology and creative play is a constant struggle.
Needless to say, my ears perked up when I learned of a play experience that marries technology with good old-fashioned play, called PopUp Play. It’s a simple yet ingenious concept created by a couple in Austin, Texas. PopUp Play lets you and your kids create a customized playscape (and ‘til New Years—a gingerbread house!) on an app called “PopUp Play Build Lab.”
The process entails downloading the free Build Lab app from the Apple store (Android version coming next year) and designing your own, personalized playscape that includes a drawbridge, castle roof options, cut-out windows in all the right spots, and cute graphics hand-selected by you and your child. The playscape is then custom built to your specifications using fiber board and delivered directly to your doorstep! Fiber board is a durable material that is sturdier than cardboard yet eco-friendly.
What I love about PopUp Play is that it combines an online and offline experience for parents and kids. It lets my kids become mini-engineers for a few minutes and really think about how to create their ideal house. While it’s targeted to kids aged 3–9, kids of all ages will enjoy the entire process. It makes for a great gift for the holidays or birthdays, too!
PopUp Play allows me to interact with my kids online. It exposes them to the possibilities our future holds with 3-D printing, computer programming, and more. Yet, it gets them offline for creative and imaginative play once the playhouse arrives. For me, this is the balance I am seeking: play that combines technology with real-world, hands-on play. After all, if you’re not tech savvy, you’re falling behind—yet, if you haven’t developed a creative brain, you’re not going to create the next big idea either!
Build Lab is free in the Apple app store. Each playhouse is $99, plus a flat $10 for shipping. Learn more at www.popupplaytoy.com
