Most parents worry about exposing their kids to too much screen time, but it can be tough to find alternatives that children find entertaining and that might be beneficial. Enter Qubitunes, a screen-free play stage and speaker for kids. Content comes in wooden cartridges that you slot in the top, and kids can place wooden character pieces on the circular soundstage, divided into four sections, to change the audio it plays.
This seemingly simple design allows for interactive stories that change based on the characters and spots your kids choose, music that can be layered up with different instruments, and themed games and quizzes. I’m a huge fan of Qubitunes, and it has a deserving place in my guides to the best STEM toys and speakers for kids. As Black Friday and gifting season approaches, the Qubitunes starter kit is one toy to keep an eye on for discounts.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Photograph: Simon Hill
Qubs
Qubitunes
I played with Qubitunes for hours when it arrived and really enjoyed it. The stereo speakers are decent, there's a headphone port, and it can be recharged via USB-C for up to six hours of play. It has since gone into my wife’s classroom, and it’s usually the first thing picked when kids have finished their work and it’s choosing time. It’s very popular with 7- and 8-year-olds, but kids aged 3 years and up (all the way up to adults) will potentially get a kick out of this.
There is a caveat: the need to purchase content separately. These add-ons cost between $10 and $20 each. Stories, games, and other options come in wooden blocks that slot into the device so you can download the content. You need a Wi-Fi connection for the initial content download and firmware updates, but then you can play offline. They usually come with three or four character blocks and a labelled bag to keep them in.
My top pick is the Little Maestro set ($20) featuring players in an orchestra covering Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven, and Bach. There are also stories about quirky characters, such as The Groblies ($20), a fun cooking game called Bernard’s Kitchen ($20) with different ingredients, and various themed soundscapes and quizzes. I prefer activities where there’s some creativity or a learning game involved, but the stories and soundscapes are good for very young kids. The interactive nature of these sets elevates the experience beyond passive listening and provides replay value, as kids experiment to discover what happens when they move and replace pieces on the stage.
Qubs has also recently released a Maestro expansion ($10) with four new composers, a Jurassic Sounds Dinosaur Game ($20) with facts and T-Rex roars, and versions of Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel & Gretel, among many others. If you like the idea of sustainable, screen-free toys, the maker Qubs also made a clever wooden car STEM toy called Cody Block ($70) that introduces kids to basic coding concepts, and it’s on sale right now, down from $100.