LeapFrog Creativity Camera Protective Case and Learn to Write with Mr. Pencil Apps and Learning Toys {Review}

 

This post is part of a sponsored campaign with LeapFrog and MomSelect. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

I've come to suspect that if my kids could do everything through an iPad or iPhone, they would. More than just playing games or reading books, if there was a way to eat, sleep and get dressed by tapping, swiping and tilting, they would. Is there an app for that yet?

Fortunately, as companies have realized the high level of interest that children everywhere have with iOS devices, they have found ways to take that love and turn it into an opportunity for education. Instead of assuming that all kids are going to want to do is use a slingshot to send birds flying across the screen, it is time to introduce them to ways that they can stay fully entertained... while learning in fun, educational, age-appropriate ways at the same time.

Thanks to LeapFrog, that dream is a reality in the form of their innovative and fun new releases which can turn an Apple device into an exciting learning tool!

LeapFrog is known as a leader in education innovation throughout the world. Their award-winning learning toys, interactive book and map experiences, reading systems, educational gaming handhelds and learning tablets are age-appropriate, trusted by parents, valued by teachers and loved by children.

Which is why I wasn't surprised to hear that LeapFrog has developed the Creativity Camera Protective Case & App and the Learn to Write with Mr. Pencil Stylus & Writing App for creative, learning fun for little ones.

Designed for ages 3-6, the Creativity Camera Protective Case & App quickly and easily turns your iPhone (4, 4s or 5) or iPod touch into the ultimate kid-friendly camera and creativity center.

As there are no batteries required, putting this device to use simply requires downloading the FREE creativity learning app, unlocking the full version of the app with the QR code located inside the camera, and placing your iPhone or iPod touch right into the protective case.

As well as protecting your Apple device and the information stored in it (the home button is locked during play so there is no worry of your child accessing things that they shouldn't), the Creativity Camera Protective Case offers your child hours of camera and creative games and activities.

Take photos, edit them, go on photo missions to create special albums, play an exciting augmented reality game... this innovative app toy turns your device into the ultimate creativity camera that kids will love (and, ahem, certain adults such as myself like to play as well)!

The six learning modes include:

• Camera — take pictures of friends, family, pets and more.

• Creativity Center — lets children filter, stamp and morph to create one-of-a-kind photos.

• Gallery — lets little photographers view photos as an album, or scroll through photos one-by-one.

• Silly Faces — guides children to take portraits and easily dress up images with funny graphics. 

• Photo Missions — complete special photo missions to create themed albums to explore letters, facial expressions and more.

• Magical Creature Catch — catch and match virtual flying critters by snapping pictures in a fast-action game. 

Both Little Sister B and Big Sister E (even though she's a little old for it) have had a great time playing with the Creativity Camera Protective Case & App and continue to get a kick out of all of the photos that they take and edit, from traditional to crazy!

Retailing for $19.99 (currently 25% off from Amazon!) this unique camera would make a great gift for the young photographer in your life to help promote their artistic creativity and self-expression.

At the same time, the Learn to Write with Mr. Pencil Stylus & Writing App toy gives kids a fun, engaging way to interact with the world of Mr. Pencil and the citizens of Doodleberg as they learn writing and drawing skills.

After downloading the free app (and unlocking the full version using the Mr. Pencil itself), this adventure-filled educational game contains more than 85 interactive activities to keep kids interested and learning.

Children simply use the kid-friendly stylus (specially designed not to scratch your device's surface) to practice writing letters, numbers and drawing skills. Directions are given by the three cheerful app characters that give easy-to-follow instructions and messages about the straight lines, curved lines and more.

And kids have to be careful! If they don't listen to the instructions and follow closely enough on the lines of the number, letter or shape that they are creating, they'll have to do it better to have it count!

I appreciate that this app allows multiple profiles so that different children can play and will always be able to save their progress — as they complete activities, they unlock more and more fun.

So not only do the activities increase in practice and difficulty, but kids are motivated to continue so that they can see what surprises will appear on each screen and so that they can proceed to the next one!

Retailing for $14.99 (also on sale on Amazon), the Learn to Write with Mr. Pencil Stylus & Writing App is an affordable and innovative way to turn an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into an entertaining, learn-to-write tool that kids will want to return to time and again.

While we have long loved LeapFrog and the way that their unique toys and learning solutions provide entertainment as well as educational advancement, the addition of these two Learning App toys fits right in. Kids are able to express their creativity, laugh endlessly, practice their ABCs, improve their fine motor skills and much more.

We all know that our kids love to play on our iPhones and iPads, so instead of fighting it, why not embrace it in a way that gives them access to fun, educational and age-appropriate options?

Find out more about these and all of LeapFrog's great products by visiting LeapFrog.com and connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.