What if a storybook character could tell her story in 3D in your preschooler’s bedroom? Well, that’s a reality now. A virtual reality. (Moms can make dad jokes, too, okay?) My three-year-old discovered a fun AR app for preschoolers called Lizzy’s World, and we have a review and tutorial for you!
{ This post is part of a sponsored campaign for Playing Forward. I received compensation for my
participation, but my review and opinions are my own. }
What is an AR app?
A augmented reality app uses the camera from your phone to create a 3D background for a digital character like Lizzy. The character won’t actually be in the room with your child but it will look like it on your phone or tablet.
Lizzy’s World is by Playing Forward. They’re a transformational technology studio that creates digital experiences that ignite children’s imaginations.
The cool thing about Lizzy’s World is that it plants Lizzy and her bed or other objects in one spot in the room. So if you move your phone around her, she stays in one spot and you see the other side of her. It’s like she’s physically in the room with you but only visible on your phone or tablet.
When we first tried the app, Lizzie was far away. I tried to zoom in with my fingers but it didn’t work. Then I realized, duh, I have to actually get up and get closer to her because she’s across the room.
Lizzy’s World is an Interactive Story
Lizzy World is a story of a girl and her first day at a new school. It starts from the moment she wakes up (after she snoozes the alarm a few times. I feel you, Lizzy.) to when she goes to bed that night.
Throughout her day, you can see her learning new things at school like math, reading, science, and art. It’s a STEAM powered story. She describes things in fun ways that are unique to her.
The app reflects Lizzy’s emotional development, using 3D and augmented reality to create an engaging setting for little ones to explore and find new ways to express their feelings.
You don’t have to use the AR to enjoy the story. You can read it in book mode where the background is computer generated. And there are butterflies to catch in each scene!
When you are in AR mode, you can move around and explore the scene.
The voice button will read the story to your child or you can swipe through the lines yourself to read it.
According to studies, social emotional development is key to success in school and in life. Playing Forward AR apps for preschoolers are specifically designed to support kids’ social-emotional development through entertaining storytelling, movie-quality visual effects, and the use of Augmented Reality. They also have similar apps with other story characters: Maxi the Taxi Dog and Dex T-Rex.
How to Play Lizzy’s World AR App for Preschoolers
First you’ll need to download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
You’ll see Lizzy when you open the app. Tap on her to get started.
Now you’re in Lizzy’s room. You have a few options. You can click the phone button to switch to AR mode. (Highly recommended because that’s the best part of the app!) Or you can stay in story mode.
Click on the voice button to have it read the story to you. Or swipe down to read it yourself.
When you’re done with each page, swipe left like you’re reading a book. It will bring up the next scene. You can swipe right to go back.
In story mode
Tap on the butterflies to catch them!
Tapping around the screen will give you different angles of the scene.
Story mode is nice when it’s too dark to do AR or you don’t have a good floor or table area for Lizzy to stand on.
In AR mode
Sometimes you have to wait for the AR to load. It has to find a good place to put Lizzy. You can tap on an area to place her. Tapping the butterfly button resets her location.
She might start out really small. Tap the big Lizzy button to make her bigger. The small Lizzy button will make her smaller.
Once you have everything all set, get up and move your phone or tablet around the scene. You can see it from every angle!
One fun thing to do is have your kid stand next to Lizzy and take a screenshot. (On iPhones you press the home and lock button at the same time) It’ll save to your photos and you can show it to your little one!
Our Review of Lizzy’s World AR App for Preschoolers
It took me a while initially to figure out how to use the app because I didn’t see any instructions. Once I had the controls figured out by using the toddler method, (push all the buttons and see what they do. lol) it was really easy to navigate.
The story is long enough that you can spend a good time playing with the app. The $3.99 price is worth it when you think about how much kids books cost. You’d easily pay twice that amount for a physical book that you can’t explore in 3D.
I’m not one to purchase apps. I prefer free ones. But I consider this app to be more of a book purchase. And I easily spend money on books for her!
Toot had a lot of fun playing with Lizzy in our house. She immediately asked “will you play with me?”
Win a STEAM Powered Weekend in New York City from Playing Forward
Enter to win a family trip to NYC from the creators of Lizzy’s World!
To celebrate the launch of Lizzy’s World and their other AR apps for preschoolers, Playing Forward is giving away a Grand Prize of a whirlwind STEAM-powered weekend of play and exploration in Manhattan!
The Grand Prize includes air transportation, a two night hotel stay, a Visa gift card to cover meals, various museum tickets for a family of four. It will also include personalized experiences at two of Manhattan’s most unique museums – the Natural History Museum & the Children’s Museum of the Arts.
The runner up wins and iPad!
Enter to Win & Download Lizzy’s World
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Kendra says
Wow so interesting!! Definitely learned a lot!
Mimi says
That’s such a fun app, I would have loved it growing up
Paula @ I'm Busy Being Awesome says
This is such a fun way to play, so interactive and cute
Emily says
This looks like a lot of fun. I think my older son would have fun with this!