Parent Tips: Improving the Moxie Interaction Experience
Updated
Check out our Parent Guides for supplemental activities and conversation-starters.
If you are having a difficult time getting your child to engage with Moxie, try the following strategies:
Remind your child that as Moxie’s mentor, they have an important job to do.
Go on the portal (http://www.globalroboticslab.com) with your child so they can see the badges and trophies they have earned and learn about what they need to do to level up.
Sit nearby in case your child wants some help generating questions and answers for their interaction with Moxie. Remind your child to say, “Moxie, Earmuffs,” so Moxie won’t listen or respond while you and your child are brainstorming. Remind your child to say, “Moxie, Please Listen to Me,” once they are ready to continue chatting with Moxie.
If Moxie is not responding to your child, it may be because they are answering with only one or two words. Encourage your child to talk to Moxie in full sentences.
If Moxie is turning away from your child or pausing the conversation, it may be because it has lost sight of your child. Encourage your child to always sit directly in front of Moxie at eye level.
Many children have age-appropriate mispronunciations of certain letters. This can sometimes be difficult for Moxie to understand, especially during the Tips and Tricks section. It may be helpful if you sit next to your child and help them pronounce the words. You may also decide to step in to reduce frustration.
Moxie can have a hard time hearing your child if they are speaking too close to its face. If you notice this is happening, encourage your child to sit about a foot away from Moxie.
If Moxie is not responding to your child or turning away from them, remind your child to use the “Moxie, Please Listen to Me” command.
Your child will not be able to immediately access all of the content on Moxie. New content will be unlocked on a regular basis, and Moxie will let your child know when that occurs. There will be new stories, new activities, new dances, and so much more!
Interaction time with Moxie is deliberately controlled so that children do not “binge” content but move on to direct interpersonal interactions with family and friends. If you find that your child is asking Moxie for content that has not been unlocked yet, remind them that the G.R.L. will be sending updates soon.
Your child will have a better conversational experience with Moxie if they talk to their robot the way they talk to other humans, maintaining an “inside voice,” that is not too loud or too soft, and looking near or at Moxie’s face while speaking.
If you find that your child is getting frustrated with Moxie, remind them that Moxie is a little robot on a big mission to learn how to be a good friend to humans. Explain that this is a big job, and Moxie has a lot to learn and will make mistakes. Remind your child that with their help, Moxie will keep learning, growing, and improving.
If other children are around, they may want to interact with Moxie. During missions and conversations, Moxie works best one-on-one with the child who is the designated mentor. Having multiple children speaking to Moxie during these times can confuse the robot and make the interaction difficult. There are plenty of experiences your child and Moxie can share with other children, such as listening to stories, doing meditation journeys, and having a dance party.