My students were very excited to see the 3Doodler pen. Right away they started thinking about what they wanted to make with it. It was a little harder to work the pen than they had thought, so they had to practice forethought and planning. They searched for templates that would let them create something that matched their skills with the pen. The pen allowed them to express their creativity, but required them to think carefully about elements of design, structure and engineering. This is definitely the kind of toy where "practice makes perfect." Some of the first creations did not turn out. My students had to temper their expectations of what they could make to match their ability and skill with the pen. This let them develop patience, perseverance, and tenacity. The pen came with a wide variety of colors so they were able to be creative and inventive with their creations.

It all starts with a well-packaged box that provides numerous ideas of where to start. When the box is opened, the first thing seen is a quick start guide that is very handy (as all the children were waiting for their turn to use it and I knew I would not have a chance to make it though the more lengthy set of instructions before they got their hands on it). The quick instructions was just enough information to get the kids creating while I looked over the rest of the included materials. It is important to look over the enclosed material, but it was nice to be able to supervise the kids using the 3Doodler pen while I did so.

The box indicates that this is for "Adult Use Only" and should be approached as a tool and not a toy. Having said this, however, I was comfortable with both my nine year old and my eleven year old using the 3Doodler under my supervision. The main safety concern is that the tip gets hot (necessary to melt the plastic), similar to that of a hot glue gun. However, the plastic itself, after it comes out of the 3Doodler pen cools very quickly (a couple of seconds). The children were able to easily manipulate the controls on the 3Doodler for all of its functions.

One of the best things about this product is its ability to provoke imaginative, and creative thinking. We are so used to drawing in 2D that the whole process from start to finish with the 3Doodler is a new experience. We are so used to being confined to the paper that when presented with the opportunity to go 3D, we are challenged to be inventive. The other thing that I loved about this product was the emotional response that resulted from the finished products. Now, the first completed 3D image was...well, what one would expect for the first of its kind. It did not look like anything on the box. However, for everyone, the children and myself included, we took pride in our finished work.

I do not tend to be a very crafty person, even though I want to be. Despite this, the 3Doodler was a lot of fun to use. There are also a lot of tutorials for people like me on youtube to follow. One does need to experiment with it - you are not going to produce the eiffel tower on your first try. But, at the same time, it is fun to experiement with. Included in the package are three tools (unblocking tool, mini screwdriver, and nozzle removal) that can be used to troubleshoot issues primarily related to plastic being stuck inside the 3Doodler pen. We did not have any trouble with this at all. However, I used the tools to remove the maintenance cover which allowed me to look inside the pen to see how the plastic moves through. I was able to take off and replace the maintenance cover without any difficulty. This is a product that the children and I will go back to over and over again. It is not something that will sit on the shelf. My fourteen year old loves it - she will put down her phone to use it!!!!! We plan on inviting all her friends over so they can give it a try - art party time!

I think this is an exciting project with a high "wow" factor. The kids are excited to get it and they have a lot of fun while exploring and learning about its powers and limitations. This product is perfect for art class would make a great gift for preteens and teens alike.