Gadgetwise Blog: The iPad as Child’s Easel

IPad cases for children abound these days, but if your intention is to create a child’s easel, ArtSee Studio from WowWee ($40) is the best bet. Designed to offer both protection against drops and reduce the chance a preschooler might end up in your email, the plastic case includes a home button lock, a rubber-tipped stylus and five stamps of the variety you might find at the post office. Instead of ink, each stamp has a unique dot pattern that triggers an artistic effect when placed against the iPad’s screen. Want to add a swimming dolphin? Use the sticker stamp. Want to make your dolphin move? Use the Arrow stamp, and trace a course. After you snap your iPad into the holder and download the free app, called ArtSee Studio, your child is free to sketch. One weak point — our testers found it hard to “undo” a sticker once it has been placed. But they were impressed by the powerful drawing options, which include such wonders as a rainbow crayon. Saving projects is automatic, and there is a set of games like connect the dots and concentration. The case fits all generations of iPads.
Download the app here.