What are two things that kids now a days like?  1. Technology 2. Being creative and making things independently.  So…let me introduce you to a product that combines technology and creativity into a fun new product for kids.  Printies.  Now, my kids are too young to really know what to do with these products so I got to turn on my creativity and check them out.

So, first of all what are Printies?  Well basically they are pre-shaped patterns that you buy.  Then when you get home you put a specific pattern into your printer and then you go online and create that animal…you can make the animal anything you want like a pink and green polka dotted puppy with a yellow tongue and lavender collar…seriously whatever a kid’s imagination thinks up, the can create on their online animal; you can even add photos and text to the creature you are creating.  Once they have perfect the design of their animal they click print and their animal is printed out (you have to turn it once the front finishes printing so the back prints).  Once the pattern has been printed out, you pop it off the paper (it’s perforated and the front and back fabric pieces are already sewn together).  After that all you need to do is stuff it with cotton and then you seal it shut with a pair of shoes that come with the package.

So, there’s the basic run down of what you do.  So what do I think about Printies?  I have to admit that I thought the idea was a bit wierd when I saw them in person at the Time to Play event I went to in NYC, but after I tested them out myself, it’s actually fun creating animals that look like how you want them.  Now, being an adult my attention span for these were kind of was kind of short…but I do think that kiddos between 5-10 would have a good time with these.  In fact, these would actually be a great birthday party activity: set up a couple of computers, have the kids design and print off their own creature and then play with them and take them home as a favor.  Perfect!