I have seen Doodle Copy recommended for children from three years and on the box to says four plus. Lizzie is two and a half and loves it. The beauty of this art toy is that you can help your child develop their hand eye coordination, pencil control, and progress their skills in creating and printing art. It offers more possibilities as children become more adept. Reception and year one children would have great fun with this. I can foresee creating our own templates for letters, writing names and maybe using photos of simple subjects – even favourite pets...
Setting up is easy, placing the included carbon paper and white drawing paper into their respective positions as shown in the instructions. The most important thing to remember is that it needs three AA batteries so be prepared.
Lizzie loves scribbling but is also mastering circles, hearts and ovals. This is where the 50 templates come in – for younger artists there is a heart, moon, star, oval and cloud shapes. As children become more adept they can use more more advanced templates culminating in fun and simple depictions of a unicorn, lion, monkey and seahorse. All shapes easily peel off their A4 backing sheet and can be replaced. Lift the upper screen and get your mini Picasso to place them where they would like on the white surface. Replace the screen and the child uses the attached stylus to trace the shapes – and add whatever they want to. Then press the button and the Doodle Copy prints the masterpiece.
The set also comes with five crayons which in my opinion are unworthy of this toy – they are like the ones you get with children's menus in restaurants. Most homes will have a far better and more exciting range of colouring pencils, fibre tips and paints to choose from.
I wonder if Canal Toys will introduce an upgraded, rechargeable version of Doodle Copy?
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥
RRP £22.99 from Smiths Toys.
If you're thinking about how to display all those pictures, take a look at our review of the Li'l Davinci display art cabinet here.
