Delayed gratification encouragement toy

A delayed gratification encouragement toy, provided in a housing having a reservoir for holding a plurality of snack items, a receiving cup having a transparent door, and an activity device. The child engages with the activity device until a milestone is reached. A reward of at least one snack item is dispensed to the child. If the child continues to engage with the activity device without retrieving the reward, additional rewards are dispensed and will increase significantly according to how long the child is willing to delay receiving the rewards.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a plush toy that provides an activity for a child and provides reward delivery to the child when playing the activity. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system for encouraging delayed gratification by encouraging the child to delay receipt of the reward.

BACKGROUND

It has become a well-established principle that an essential key to success is the ability to focus and persist through unpleasant or unexciting tasks for the sake of a future reward. The ability to sustain attention for prolonged periods of time is essential to not only school work, but also productivity in the workplace, health and fitness, and even success in relationships.

Much of our understanding of the importance of delayed gratification stems from the now famous Stanford University “marshmallow study” that was initially conducted in the 1960s, and has been repeated numerous times since. The study and subsequent studies tested the relationships between the children's ability to delay gratification with their future success—in scholastic, work, and personal arenas. In the experiment, children were offered a treat that they could receive immediately, but told that they would receive an additional treat if they could wait. After being left alone for a period of time with their treat, they would be rewarded an additional treat if they could withstand the temptation to eat the initial treat immediately. Tracking these children over time and evaluating various parameters of life success, it was found that the longer children were able to delay gratification during the study, the greater tendency for them to excel in the measured parameters of life success.

In view of the marshmallow test and both studies and anecdotal evidence and observations that corroborate the results, psychologists, behavioral scientists, and even performance specialists agree that the principle of “delayed gratification” may be among one of the most important skills or habits for achieving personal goals of any kind.

Training a person to delay gratification requires overcoming or repressing a natural impulse in the frontal cortex to respond to an immediately available reward in favor of a better future outcome. Like any other impulse, the tendency to go for the here and now would naturally dominate, in the absence of intervention. Just like other impulses, however, with intervention and training it is very possible to overcome this tendency. Successfully overcoming this impulse and reinforcing the accomplishment of delaying gratification can form a new habit that will then dominate, and lead to good results throughout life. Habits such as doing homework before going out to play will seem natural and desirable. Eating well and exercise for the sake of intangible future goals like fitness and health will be the norm. Later it may translate into a strong willingness to pay career dues or go through extensive professional training, for the sake of success. In everyday life, it may translate into a consistent ability to focus attention on work productivity whenever needed.

Just as the initial marshmallow experiment was conducted among four to six year old children, it is clear that these habits form early. Clearly then, the time to intervene and retrain impulses and create positive habits, is at a young age. Since young children do a great deal of their learning using toys, using a toy to train behavior modification is an appropriate way to generate new positive habits and skills. Various toys and systems have been proposed by others that seek to strengthen the work/reward or behavior/reward connections, but do not reinforce the value of and habits of delayed gratification. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a system for training a child to sustain attention and delay gratification. Accordingly, the present disclosure describes a toy that provides at least one activity to engage the child. Engaging with the activity results in offering the child a reward, and offering an additional reward if the child can wait before receiving the reward.

It is another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure to provide a system that automatically dispenses a reward. Accordingly, the toy contains a reward reservoir, a receiving cup, and a dispensing mechanism for controlled dispensing of edible rewards from the reward reservoir to the receiving cup. The receiving cup has a door lock and/or door sensor for selectively preventing access to the rewards in the receiving cup and/or detecting when the child has retrieved the reward.

It is yet another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure to provide a toy that is familiar and friendly to a young child, and is easy to use. Accordingly, the system may be provided as a plush toy, and the activity provided on a touch screen having tablet-like interactivity. A variety of learning activities can be provided through software to engage the child, determine a reward, prompt the child to choose to delay receipt of the reward, and to regulate dispensing of the reward by controlling the dispensing mechanism.

Accordingly, the present disclosure describes a delayed gratification encouragement toy, provided in a housing having a reservoir for holding a plurality of snack items, a receiving cup having a transparent door, and an activity device. The child engages with the activity device until a milestone is reached. A reward of at least one snack item is dispensed to the child. If the child continues to engage with the activity device without retrieving the reward, additional rewards are dispensed and will increase significantly according to how long the child is willing to delay receiving the rewards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates a delayed gratification encouragement toy10for use by a child, having a housing20, an activity device30, a reward reservoir40, and a receiving cup50. Note that in the embodiment shown the housing20is configured as a plush toy in the shape of a bear, having a top20T, a bottom20B, a head22having a face23, a pair of upper paws24, a pair of lower paws26, and a torso28having a torso front surface28F. Also in the embodiment shown, the activity device30is located on the torso front surface28F and is a tablet device32having a touchscreen display34.

The activity device30provides at least one activity, suitable for engaging and occupying a child. The activity may be structured to include or provide a milestone, which may represent the completion of a game or lesson, the solving of a problem, or any other event for which it would seem appropriate to reward the child for their engagement with the activity device30. While it is preferred that the milestone is an active event or achievement, the milestone may be a period of time of continued engagement with the activity device. Preferably the activity device30provides more than one activity, which may be selected by the child, by the caregiver, or dynamically according to the age, maturity, learning style, and progress of the child. When the tablet device32serves as the activity device30, numerous activities may be provided through apps and programming, utilizing the same touchscreen display34. Such apps and programming may be pre-installed and may be customized and updated through software downloaded over the Internet. The tablet device32is capable of displaying text and images, including but not limited to videos and animation, to facilitate providing the activity. The tablet device32preferably also has a speaker so that it is capable of generating sound, including music and voice prompts—making it easier to use by children that cannot read or cannot see the touchscreen display34. The tablet device32may also have a microphone and be capable of voice recognition, such that various activities may be commanded using the touchscreen display34, and also using voice commands.

FIG. 4illustrates the reward reservoir40as it is being filled with reward items90by a caregiver100. The reward items90are preferably small, edible treats that would be of interest to the child. Within a certain range of parameters of sizes, weights, and textures acceptable to the toy10and its mechanisms, the precise edible treat may be determined by the caregiver100. The reward reservoir40includes a vessel41for holding a sufficient quantity of reward items90, and a cover42for selectively providing access to the vessel41by the caregiver while preventing access to the vessel41by the child. Accordingly, the cover42may be configured to lock in a variety of ways, such as with a key lock that requires a key for access; a screw that requires a screwdriver to open; or an electronic lock that requires a code or signal to be entered by the caregiver100or generated by an electronic device of the caregiver100to open.

Referring toFIG. 7, inside the housing20, a dispensing mechanism60facilitates the controlled dispensing of reward items90from the reward reservoir40to the receiving cup50. In the example mechanism illustrated, the vessel41has an exit opening44connected to a queue tube46. The queue tube46ensures a constant supply of reward items90to a release device62. A delivery tube64connects the release device62with the receiving cup50. On command, the release device62allows a single reward item90from the queue tube46to enter the delivery tube64whereupon gravity carries it downwardly to the receiving cup50. Note that the details of such mechanisms are well known in vending machines and related arts and thus are beyond the scope of the present discussion.

The release device62operates under the control of a control unit70. The control unit70is a microprocessor or microcontroller based system having logic and communication attributes and capabilities necessary for carrying out the functionality of the system as described herein. Note that the design and implementation of such control systems is well known and thus not described in detail herein.FIG. 8, however, provides an example of major functional components of the toy10. Key to the functionality of the toy10is for the control unit70to interface with the activity device to determine when to actuate the release device62to dispense a reward—and if appropriate according to the configuration of the device—to release the rewards to the child or to detect retrieval of the reward by the child. Also key to the functionality of the control unit70is the ability to communicate with the activity device30to determine when an activity has been completed. This communication with the activity device30may be by a wired connection as illustrated. In addition, the toy10may also have a wireless transceiver72, connected to the control unit70for communicating with the activity device30via any suitable communication protocol, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC) or the like. For example, referring toFIG. 2, the activity device30may be an external personal electronic device33, such as a tablet or smartphone that is not physically connected to the toy10, but communicates with the control unit through the wireless transceiver. The external personal electronic device33may contain an app that provides activities for the child, and signals the control unit when an activity or a milestone has occurred within the activity and when a reward is to be released. Whether the activity device30is a dedicated tablet computer32or an external personal electronic device33, the activity device is preferably configured as shown inFIG. 8. In particular, the activity device may have a CPU36in communication with the touchscreen display34that provides the functionality described herein, and also preferably has a microphone37and speaker38to facilitate audible communication with the child. In addition, the activity device30may have a wireless transceiver39for communicating with the wireless transceiver72of the control unit70, to communicate milestones to the control unit70in the absence of a hardwired connection thereto, and to also signal other prompts back to the activity device30when necessary for carrying out the functionality described herein.

Referring toFIG. 3, in an alternate embodiment, the activity device30need not be a touchscreen-based virtual activity, but may also be a mechanical activity35, provided on the torso front surface28F of the housing20, that allows the child to physically complete a task or perform a function in order to reach a milestone and earn the reward. Note that numerous variations and configurations are possible for the mechanical activity35, and for the activity device30in general.

Referring again toFIG. 8, the control unit70is in communication with the release device62of the dispensing mechanism60to signal the dispensing mechanism60to release a reward. The receiving cup50may have a door sensor52and/or a door lock54in communication with the control unit70. As will be discussed in further detail hereinbelow, the door sensor52allows the control unit70to determine when the child has retrieved a reward from the release cup50and the door lock54allows the control unit70to selectively prevent or allow access to the receiving cup50. In particular, referring toFIG. 6, the receiving cup50includes a door55that is connected by a hinge56to the housing20. In particular, in this embodiment where the housing20is configured as a bear, and wherein the receiving cup50is located within one of the upper paws24of the housing20, the receiving cup50has a front opening50F in said upper paw24that provides access to a receiving cup cavity50C. The door55has an open position as shown, and a closed position as indicated inFIGS. 5A and 5B. The front opening50F is thereby selectively closed by the door55to prevent access to the receiving cup cavity50C. The door55is made of plastic and is transparent so that the child can see into the receiving cup cavity50C through the door55. As discussed previously in the discussion ofFIG. 8, to regulate access to receiving cup cavity50C, the receiving cup50may employ the door sensor52to detect when the door55is in the open position to determine when the child has retrieved a reward from the release cup50, and may employ the door lock54to selectively hold the door55in the closed position to prevent access to the receiving cup50or allow the door to open to permit access to the release cup50.

Basic functionality and operation of the delayed gratification encouragement toy are illustrated inFIG. 9. After starting use of the toy900, the child engages with the activity device until a milestone is reached901, then an initial reward is dispensed into the receiving cup902. Referring momentarily toFIG. 5A, an initial reward90A is dispensed into the receiving cup50and can be seen through the door55. Returning toFIG. 9, the child is then prompted to wait before retrieving the reward to receive an additional reward903. After a time period of continued engagement with the activity device such that the next milestone is reached904, the toy/system considers whether the child waited for the reward905. If the child did not wait, the child may continue to engage with the activity device at block901. If the child did wait to retrieve the reward an additional reward is dispensed into the dispensing cup and a count of how many times the child has delayed receiving the reward is incremented906. Referring momentarily toFIG. 5B, an additional reward90B is dispensed into the receiving cup50and can be seen through the door55along with the initial reward90A that has not yet been retrieved. Returning toFIG. 9, then the child is prompted to continue to wait at block903and may continue to engage with the activity device until the next milestone is reached904. The additional reward that is dispensed may be increased according to how many times the child has continued to engage with the activity device and reached a milestone without retrieving the reward. Advantageously, it should be extremely clear to the child while using the toy that the amount of reward they are receiving is increasing and will increase tremendously each time they delay retrieving the reward. To accomplish this, for example, the reward dispensed might double at each milestone that the child delays retrieval. To accomplish this significant growth in reward dispensing, advantageously the reward cup should be large enough to accumulate significant reward items, and the reward items themselves should be relatively small.

Note that the above description presumes that the child complies or agrees to delay retrieval of the reward. In actuality the delayed retrieval of the reward can be accomplished in at least two ways: by preventing early retrieval or by detecting early retrieval. These two ways can be implemented in accordance with whether the door sensor or door lock is employed by the toy to delay retrieval. In particular, with the door sensor employed, it is continuously up to the child to delay retrieval by not opening the door, and early retrieval is detected by the system. With the door lock employed, the child may be asked at each milestone if they can wait until the next milestone. Preferably this occurs by a prompt on the touchscreen, and acceptance of a response using the touchscreen. However the prompt may be spoken and the acceptance or denial indicated verbally using the microphone and speaker. If the child does agree to wait, the door is locked until the next milestone is reached. Each of these methodologies provides its own valuable lessons to the child. Of note, however, is that when the child agrees to wait and the door is locked, the additional reward may be dispensed into the receiving cup immediately, so that the child can immediately see what they have earned by agreeing to wait. Since the child can immediately see the additional reward they earned within the receiving cup upon their agreement, the result of their agreement is tangible to them. Note that this tangibility can be created in other ways, including virtually—even when the door sensor is employed—such as by displaying their impending additional reward on the display as the child continues engagement without retrieving the reward.

FIG. 10illustrates a method in accordance with the present disclosure that involves locking the door to the retrieval cup. In particular, after starting use of the toy1000, the child engages with the activity device until a milestone is reached1001. When the milestone is reached, an initial reward is dispensed into the receiving cup1002, and the child is prompted that if they will wait they will receive an additional reward and is asked if they are willing to wait1003. The child may indicate willingness to delay receiving the reward using the touchscreen, verbally, or through any other suitable means. If the child is willing to wait at block1004, the door to the receiving cup is locked, an additional reward is dispensed into the receiving cup according to how may times the child has agreed to delay receiving the reward, and a count of how many times the child has delayed receiving the reward is incremented1005. If the child is not willing to wait at block1004, the door is unlocked so that the child can retrieve the reward, and the counter is reset1006. In particular, resetting the system means resetting to zero the count of how many times the child has delayed receiving the reward. At this point the child may be prompted that they can now take the reward from the receiving cup but next time, if they wait, they will receive additional rewards.

FIG. 11illustrates a method in accordance with the present disclosure that involves using the door sensor to determine when the child has retrieved the reward, such that it is always the child's choice when to retrieve the reward from the receiving cup. In particular, after starting use of the toy1100the child engages with the activity device until a milestone is reached1101. When the milestone is reached, an initial reward is dispensed1102, and the child is prompted that they will be receiving an additional reward if they wait until the next milestone is reached1103. The child may indicate willingness to delay receiving the reward using the touchscreen, verbally, or through any other suitable means. The child then engages with the touchscreen until the next milestone is reached1104. The toy determines whether the child waited until this next milestone to retrieve the reward by determining if the door to the receiving cup was opened since the previous milestone1105. If the door was not opened and so the child did wait, an additional reward is dispensed according to how may times the child has delayed receiving the reward, a count of how many times the child has delayed receiving the reward is incremented, and the child is prompted to continue to wait1006. If the door was opened and the child did not wait at block1105, the counter is reset1007. In addition, the child may be gently prompted that they did not wait and next time, if they are willing to wait, they will receive additional rewards, and the child may again engage with the activity device at block1101.

In conclusion, herein is presented a delayed gratification encouragement toy. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present disclosure.