Last week, I let y’all know that I’ve had the pleasure of testing out some brand new electronic toys this season. Courtesy of HP, we received the new HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC – read my review here – and the snazzy HP ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One Printer.
In addition to the super sleek tech gadgets, HP also sent us a copy of Creative IQ: Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World. The book offers over one hundred activities contained within ten-themed chapters to help parents and teachers develop children’s Creative IQ; a concept they have defined as the ability to confidently develop and express creative, out-of-the-box solutions to challenges relating to every aspect of life. The activities involve art, music, drama, creative movement, cooking, science, mathematics and fitness.
Well, since I have two little guys who love to learn, we dove right into some of the Brain Training Challenges, including “My Dream Bedroom”, which fosters Design and Categorization Skills.
“This activity will allow kids to draw their ideal bedroom with a pencil, black marker, or crayon. Photocopy the bedroom design several times with the ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One so that young learners can experiment with different colours to see which combination looks best. Challenge: Ask the children to identify each of the colours used as a primary, secondary or tertiary colour, thus helping to build their classification skills.”
Well, since Ryder was recently treated to a dream bedroom makeover, I thought it was only fair that Reid had a chance to create his own ideal bedroom too. However, we ran into the first roadblock right from the start; (1) Reid can’t actually create an intelligible design and (2) neither can I. Seriously, when God was handing out artistic talent he skipped over me completely. (Guess I’ll just have to rely on my wit and charm, eh?) Hence, after a few futile attempts that proved mildly embarrassing and majorly annoying, I turned to my good friend, MS PowerPoint.
Within moments I had drummed up a dream room for Reid, and it printed out beautifully – and wirelessly, mind you – on our ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One. Then, with a press of a button, I easily photocopied the design so that he could try out different colour combinations.
The good news? Reid loved experimenting with different hues, and I introduced him to primary and secondary colours. We had a great time deciding on which colour he should choose for his bedding, rug and of course, craft table and chairs. (Although I did question his decision to colour one of the plants purple, until he explained that he was colouring his “lilac plant”. Well – I guess he showed me!)
The bad news? Reid is far from mastering the pincer grip, and holds his crayons like he holds a lollipop. So let’s just say that this colouring expertise was slightly below par, especially next to big brother Ryder, who colours with the flair of an accomplished artist. Still, how cute is his little hand grabbing his crayon?
In the end, he produced a few different options and declared that his dream room was… all of them. Ha! Now, I just need to kick him out of my bed so that we can get to designing his so-called dream room.
We’re really loving the Creative IQ challenges and love our new HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC and ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One Printer even more. We’re able to enjoy hours of family time which give my young learners a chance to develop new skills with fun and enriching play experiences. And I love this: “Children with the ability to think, process information, and express themselves creatively will have an extra set of skills to draw upon as broad-minded, motivated adults, confident in their ability to make a valuable contribution to any group or endeavour.” – Creative IQ: Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World.
The HP products mentioned in this blog post were supplied by HP Canada.
Kudos to you for your PowerPoint genius! And I for one happen to love he lollipop grip – there’s plenty of time for pincer later. ;)
I agree! Ryder started kindergarten with the lollipop grip and he had a perfect pincer in weeks :)
Don’t worry about the pincer grip, that will come later but I am loving his choice of colours for his room. Definitely a snazzy looking printer. What’s the cost of ink?
Thanks Tricha! Re: pricing, in the ballpark of all HP printers, I suppose. About $16 for black, $22 for colour.
Nice compact printer ! Too bad it doesn’t have a fax in it.
I will be putting the Creative IQ book on my “to buy” list for sure.
Please do! I’m grabbing a few copies for Christmas – perfect for families with young children!
Great looking printer! Love it.
I’m sure you do! LOL
Very cute kids and I like the idea of the Creative IQ book. Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome Helen – and thank you!
I think he has a wonderful vision for his room! Great looking printer, thanks
Thanks Anne!
Great idea! and a nice printer,too!
Thanks Lynn! The printer is fab, and we love the Creative IQ book!
Love love love that idea — such a great creative activity to do with kids! Did he ever ask you if he will have his room made over like Ryder did, based on his design? haha
That is a great Idea.
Wow, thats a great idea. My daughter would have sooo much fun setting up a “princess room” in purple colors LOL I’ve never seen anything like this before … very neat!
The printer is great and innovative.
Lets kids use their imagination which is cool and something I lack.
The Creative IQ book is on my must have list! We’ve hit that transition point of baby/toddler/big girl and this could be a great program to use, to design little ones room with some input from her :)
So cool love the Creative IQ. The pincer grip will come:)
This is so cool!
The Creative IQ is very Cool. It blows my mind how many unique Creative things are out there. That Printer is beyond Amazing.
Great looking printer! would like to have this
this looks great for the grandkids.
I like that idea! Designing with kids is great…a fun way for little ones to show their personalities and what they like and dislike.
I remember when my boys colored like that, they would push so hard that they’d be down to the paper wrapper in a couple minutes haha.
Wow, what a printer, love the creative IQ
My daughter is so creative she would love this!
Very sleek and nice looking printer. Apparently, you can also print from your Smartphone or Tablet.
Nothing better than having a good printer
This printer is amazing – love the Creative IQ too – my kids would have a blast with them (and mom too!)
like the idea my hubby would love the features on this printer
I bought an HP printer a few months ago from Costco. The one that I purchased was there when I went shopping with my BFF so…she picked up one too! I love the wireless function and HP is just a brand that I trust! Thank you for the wonderful review, Lena :)
I would love something like this!
I’ve always bought HP everything, printer usually all in one, computers, great products! Love printing out projects for my grandson!
great idea for for getting reid involved in designing his new room!
We need to buy a new printer so I am definitely going to be checking this one out! Love the idea of letting kids design their rooms.
I’ve always had issues with printers, but this one looks pretty nice!
What kid wouldn’t love to create their dream room? Awesome idea!
What a great color scheme, it’s understandable why he couldn’t choose just 1 :)
we just bought this printer. Works great
The printer designs are gone so far today – I won’t need to hide this one under the table, nor I will have to because of the size.
Looks like a great printer :)
Great job on his “dream bedroom”!
I love the Creative IQ concept, its amazing to watch your child’s mind grow and develop right before your eyes! I also like that HP offers wireless printing capabilities! They think of EVERYTHING! LOL! Your boys are absolutely adorable Lena!
Love his coloring, it’s so cute! And that book sounds very cool. I love anything that helps boost my children’s creativity!
I love Ryder’s room choices :) my little one did the lollipop grip too but quickly adjusted :) ps he’s adorable
Love to be able to find activities online to assist in the kids using their imagination! :-)
So fun and educational, so much has advanced since mine were this age.
Handy gadget, making your own coloring pages.
the printer looks very sleek and love the kids drawing , I miss those little kids drawings around the house
What a wonderful printer! Another thing to add to Santa’s list lol!
That’s a great activity for older kids – I don’t think my little guy would be quite ready for it, but I like the thinking and creativity behind it! What a great tools from HP!
Love the printer. Wish I had a wireless one.
My dream Bedroom! I know my son would love to do that! He is 3 and tells me already how he wants to change things around lol
Awesome! Having a good printer is a very nice treat! I know, since i had the cheapest printer ever and everything that came out of it was just not right! haha
more learning & showing creativity = lots of fun times
i love these kind of activities for little one
This printer looks amazing – love the Creative IQ as well
What a great idea! I know my daughter would love to design her dream bedroom!
I think HP printers are great and very durable. I like the creative IQ…great way to bring the kids imagination to life.
I love that this printer is wireless and so easy to print all the best stuff from all your devices. Makes it so easy and no excuses to let your (and the kids) imagination run wild.
I like that you can use the printer as a photocopier. That’s very handy to be able to do that at home.
Talk about getting everyone’s creative juices flowing. A great way to make someone feel so great is to create something …. then colour. I love colouring. shhh
I think that this is such a creative and fun idea for little ones, maybe my DD can come up with something new for our living room! We are in desperate need of a change :)
Kids sure will learn new skills and will be second nature to them as they do their school projects in their later years
awe cute coloring job :)
we need a printer so badly, this one looks fantastic
Wow, what a printer, love the creative IQ, would be very nice to win a new printer,,Thanks
great idea
The Creative IQ certainly sounds interesting, especially if it will help kids further develop their skills and make them think creatively.
How cool is this? Although I fear the idea of letting my daughter think she can actually design her bedroom all by herself. I see dollar signs flying around (and out the window).
I like the ability to design their own pages but one downfall, stay stocked in toner and paper.
What a cool idea to be able to design your own pages! I love the fact you are fully able to control what your kids are interacting with then!
Technology continues to amaze! Wow!
I think I may have found my Christmas present for the nephews!!
Looks and sounds like a great printer
What a great idea we too actually sat with our kids last week and got them to draw their bedrooms and color it the color they wanted their bedrooms! My boys love doodling! Great printer as well!
Wonderful printer!! Your son is just so sweet! I may have to check into Creative IQ, my daughter is expecting and we’re trying to put together a variety of gift baskets of different things a Mom can use.. we all know all to quickly are little ones are learning our computers/phones/laptops, faster then we can. This would be perfect! Thank you Lena!
Wow it’s a great way to build skills.
Love the printer so multi functional and I’m putting the creative IQ on my list for Xmas
Very impressed with this equipment just wow!
The printer looks like a GOOD one! Sturdy, stable. I’ve had ones in the past that looked like they’d break if I put the paper in wrong. 50 copy capacity is pretty good!
The printer looks awesome, also it looks like you have a junior architect or designer in your family. He did a wonderful job in designing his room. The creative IQ is a good tool to own.
What a great printer. My lo in jk is still holding his pencil a little funny but getting better everyday
Awesome printer. It kinda reminds me of getting a new one. My home printer is getting old and slow.
Can remember the coloring days *chuckle*. The Creative IQ book is intriguing – technology is advancing so fast …wow good think my 9 year old is keeping me informed *hah*. Thanks for posting these great ideas…my journal is filling up quickly with sites to check to get more information on these such products.
So when do we lose our love of colour? My 3 year old wants a bright pink and purple and green room too. Um, no.
Awesome printer! The quality looks great.