VTech KidiArt Studio Review

Review

Sal, last year, asked for the VTech Learning Laptop for Christmas after playing with one at a friend’s house. Wait – maybe it was his birthday? I don’t remember, and it doesn’t really matter. He wanted this laptop, and we were able to fulfill that wish. I’m glad because he loves it and thinks himself quite the cool dude, playing away with it.

Well, VTech also has this cool KidiArt Studio that they boys played with the other day when their cousins came over. Now, you can read the review on it over at Amazon – about the brightly colored plastic and all the bells and whistles. But I’m just simply going to tell you that my kids had a ball-o-fun of a time playing with it.

My twins are 9; boys. Their cousins, girls, are younger (like 4, 6 and 7). They all had equal amounts of fun snapping pictures and superimposing them onto goofy pre-drawn bodies using the tablet and viewing the results on our television screen (you can hook it up to your TV or computer if you want to be real crafty, printing out pictures and such). The size of the desk and stool was more tailored to the 4-6 year range, but the activities seemed a bit more suitable for the 7-9 year old range. As a multi-aged group activity, it was perfect.

Set-up was relatively simple. It took me less than 10 minutes from unpacking to plugging it in. Figuring out how to use it was simple, too. The only complaint I have with it is the batteries drained faster than a water balloon riding a porcupine. If there were one thing the toy missed a home run on, I’d have to say it was that it didn’t include an AC adapter (it did come with cords for hook-up to the television and computer). I couldn’t find anything to hook an AC adapter up to, either. So, be warned – if you buy this for Christmas, stock up on batteries, ’cause it is NO fun when your spanky new toy poops out on you 10 minutes into a good time.

Bottom line: My young boys, and their cousins, thoroughly enjoyed the KidiArt Studio – fun toy, easy to use – great activity for a small group of young kids to gather and giggle with. Easily transportable (the desktop snaps off for easy portability). Again, though – adapter would have been really, really nice. I put a “-” after the three stars as a 2.5 or a would be 3-star if it came with an AC adapter.

Rating:

Pictures of the kids using the KidiArt Studio…