Does your toddler have an easel?

[Hallie_D]

DS is about to turn two and my mother really wants to get him an easel. If your child has an easel, which one did you buy/get as a gift? My mother is looking at the Alex easel which retails (without art supplies) for about $80. Something in me cringes at that number--maybe the part of me that saw one at IKEA for $20? Is the Alex that much better? Is it a better deal to get the $100 version with the paper, paint, markers and chalk?

TIA for your input!

[hjdong]

I don't know about the Alex - Jamie has the IKEA version. It seems fine for him - except he's a little bit short for it. He's a little bit short for most things.

We got the IKEA one and just some crayola chalk, crayons etc. His favorite part is the white board. Everytime he draws on it, and gets it all over the wood (why is it that he likes to draw on the wood more than the rest?), I'm glad we only paid $20. Now, we don't know how well it will hold up in the long term, but so far, so good.

[pamela mom of 3]

Yes, they do.. we have the step2 easel for two
http://www.step2.com/index.cfm?stp2ssid=38058C02-0059-49B4-A3C4E35869CD1435&action=details&category_id=1000&subcategory_id=1003&product_id=1179

I like the plastic ones, i've tried a few wooden ones but the plastic has stood up better when the others have become ahem firewood :o

Little tikes makes some also...

http://www.littletikes.com

http://www.step2.com

GL :)



~Pamela Mom Of 3

http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/kao/otn/blobflower.gif

[atlbaby]

At my suggestion, my mom got Arielle the LT double easel for her second birthday. I had a coupon for TRU so it was even cheaper than $50.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/toys/B00000IRTI/qid%3D1063052619/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-1614232-5451932

She wasn't interested in it immediately, but at about 27 months she began to enjoy it. I like it because it has a chalk board on one side and a clip for paper on the other (painting or coloring). Two kids can use it at once, if your DS has a friend over.

Although it does fold up it's not small, so I don't keep it out all the time. I think that's what makes it more fun for her, since it's not an everyday toy.

HTH!

-Rachel
Mom to Arielle, 10/30/01
and Daliya, 10/27/03

[redhookmom]

We had the IKEA one and ended up replacing it. The bottom of the paint tray fell out and the pegs that held the tray in place loosened so that it no longer was sturdy.

The one we have now is a magnetic white board. It has super strong magnets that will hold anything in place on it. My DS sees an OT once a week and she convinced us to invest in a good easel. Apparently many pre-writing skills are developed at the easel, because of the position your hands, arms and shoulders are in.

[lcl]

we have this one and my DS loves it.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000056JKI/qid=1084856915/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/002-7860601-0628856?v=glance&s=toys

I bought it at the goodwill store for 5.99. it is the PJ Kids one which normally goes for 29.99 at toysrus

[Hallie_D]

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the links. My mother is focused on a wooden one but I can really see the point of getting a plastic one. DS is very petite, so the IKEA version will probably be too tall for him. I should probably take him shopping to see what fits.

[MelissaTC]

My Mom just bought DS an easel for his birthday. It arrived last week but we haven't checked it out yet. http://tinyurl.com/2ln96 She also purchased the paint cups, paint brushes and 2 pads of paper which are made by Alex. I think it is going to be neat since the trays are adjustable. HTH! :)

[Momof3Labs]

No way - that's Matthew?? I just did a double-take at his avatar, Melissa! He's getting sooo big!!

[MelissaTC]

It is! I can't believe it myself. Makes me sad a little bit but excited as well. He is growing so fast! We definitely need to get Matthew and Colin together sometimes. I am sure they would have lots to chat about...lol...

[egoldber]

We got the Little Tikes one for Sarah when she was 18 months old. I can honestly say it has been one of the best toys we ever purchased. I think it was around $40 at TRU.

Here's why I would go with a plastic vs a wooden one. She colors at it, but on the chalk side, she actually prefers to paint with water! She would do that all day! And that easel gets pretty sopping wert, I have to tell you. If it was wood, I'm not sure how it would hold up.

They have the same one in her preschool classroom.

HTH,