Skylight Buddy tablet review: A chore tracker for children
The device features a simple interface with emoji labels, appealing to non-readers, and includes basic functions like a night light and alarm without a subscription. A $39-per-year "Plus" subscription is required for additional features such as reminders and reward systems.
The Verge has published a review of the Skylight Buddy, a dedicated tablet device designed for children aged four to 10 to track routines and chores. The device is priced at $139.99, with an optional $39-per-year "Buddy Plus" subscription required for advanced features such as reminders, visual timers, and reward systems. The review highlights the device's effectiveness in motivating children through a simple, emoji-based interface that appeals to non-readers, noting its success in reducing parental friction compared to traditional sticker charts.
Skylight is a company known for producing kid-centric digital calendars, and the Buddy operates on an Android-based system described by the reviewer as a "gussied-up Android tablet." The hardware features a screen angled straight ahead at eye level for young children, distinct from the upward-angled design of devices like the Echo Show. Basic features available without a subscription include a night light, wake-up alarm, and the ability to display recurring or one-off tasks as large cards with emoji labels.
The Skylight Buddy operates on a "one-kid-per-device" model, requiring adult setup via the Skylight app to create profiles and assign tasks. The reviewer noted that the basic feature set was sufficient for their household, avoiding the need for the paid subscription. The reviewer’s child responded positively to daily onscreen celebrations featuring changing emojis, such as waffles, upon task completion, which the reviewer described as a powerful motivator that traditional methods like physical sticker charts failed to sustain.
A green silicone case is available as an extra $20 accessory. The reviewer found the device's child-centric design and dedicated screen to be key advantages over traditional parenting aids, which are often labour-intensive and fail to maintain long-term engagement. The device functions independently but is positioned as a complement to other Skylight products, such as the Skylight Calendar.
Despite its effectiveness, the review noted limitations in the companion app's flexibility. The reviewer highlighted an inability to move tasks to different days or reorder tasks within a routine, noting that Skylight’s VP of product, Anubhav Sarkar, stated this functionality would be added to the app in the month following the review. The reviewer concluded that while the app needs improvement, the basic version has genuinely helped provide structure for young children.
