Crayons for toddlers

[smilie]

What's the best type of crayons to get for toddlers learning to draw?

 

[TiggerTails57]

Fat chunky ones........watch they don't eat them!

 

[nmmom95]

Crayola makes a triangular crayon that's supposed to be easy for toddlers to grasp. When my boys were little, I used either the regular thick crayons or Twistables.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

The triangle ones are great because they don't roll away. Markers are good for the yougest artists because they don't require the same coordination or pressure that crayons do.

But the real key in my experience is to get crayola brand washable ones--crayons or markers.

 

[1957]

I got DGD (who was nearly two at the time) "finger crayons" for Christmas last year. They look like a short turkey baster with holes in the bulb part to fit little fingers...then a pointy end. There were 30 in the set, so all kinds of colors. Also got her a kids' easel. She put one crayon on every finger and thumb! Also easy to hold onto the bulb part. The only problem was that the crayons are so waxy, that they didn't leave much color.

When I visited again this past spring, they were kept in a basket....still used, but mostly broken, of course!

 

[LBAK]

We use the triangular ones in our toddler class at school, the chunky ones for the 3's and the regular skinny ones for the 4's. Markers I would hesitate with markers unless you're sitting right there next to them. My pre-K class loves to put them near their mouths.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I agree that the thick ones are best and if they're flat on one side they won't roll away. Toddlers and preschoolers will tend to use a fist grip but you want to encourage them to use their fingers. This will make an easier transition to writing. The best way to do this is to break the crayons into stubs. The only way for them to grasp a stub is using their fingers. It should be too small to grasp with their fist. This will also help to develop finger strength which gets them ready for writing and other fine-motor skills. We use crayon stubs in my special-ed preschool class for the 3 year olds. We find that when we switch to a whole crayon or marker later, they're ready to hold it properly.

 

[2binak]

We use the washable triangular Crayola crayons for DD (23 months old) and she does really well with them. We bought a big flipchart for her to draw on and she loves laying on the floor drawing on it. We also have the washable markers, but are a little more careful to sit next to DD while she's using those.

 

[luvsJack]

When we had our center, Crayola made a really fat crayon with no paper on it. It was made specifically for toddlers. I never saw these in the regular stores, we ordered them from a school supply place (Lakeshore, Lakeview----something like that?) The worked great.

Another hint: offer huge pieces of paper. Toddlers color/draw with their whole arm and sometimes with their whole bodies. A big roll of butcher paper is great and giving them enough paper that they have some freedom of movement.

 

[Princess_Nikki]

I get Crayola washable crayons and markers every time. We have had the triangular ones, the thicker ones, and now, my absolutely fav, Color Wonder!!!

Color Wonder is where it is at! They can paint, color, and do all sorts of things with the Color Wonder line. Some of the line is for older kids, so just check the packaging. My son LOVES Color Wonder. It's all invisible until they use the Color Wonder supplies and Voila! It magically appears.

I personally have found these products to be invaluable, because, having learned the hard way, not ALL of the washable crayons and markers come out as easily as you would hope! I have "faded" brown marker streaks on my very white bedroom walls (Happily Ever After is the color to be exact! ) now thanks to the color not ALL coming out! I will have to paint over that spot, so FYI on the washables!

 

[luvsJack]

I get Crayola washable crayons and markers every time. We have had the triangular ones, the thicker ones, and now, my absolutely fav, Color Wonder!!!

Color Wonder is where it is at! They can paint, color, and do all sorts of things with the Color Wonder line. Some of the line is for older kids, so just check the packaging. My son LOVES Color Wonder. It's all invisible until they use the Color Wonder supplies and Voila! It magically appears.

I personally have found these products to be invaluable, because, having learned the hard way, not ALL of the washable crayons and markers come out as easily as you would hope! I have "faded" brown marker streaks on my very white bedroom walls (Happily Ever After is the color to be exact! ) now thanks to the color not ALL coming out! I will have to paint over that spot, so FYI on the washables!

Yes. Color Wonder can be a life (or should I say home) saver!

My only problem with those products is that they don't offer much in the way of creativity or freedom to color/draw whatever the child wants. Child development dictates that children shouldn't be using color sheets/books. I wish color wonder would develop paper that can be used without having the picture already drawn on for the child.

 

[HelenePA]

Yes. Color Wonder can be a life (or should I say home) saver!

My only problem with those products is that they don't offer much in the way of creativity or freedom to color/draw whatever the child wants. Child development dictates that children shouldn't be using color sheets/books. I wish color wonder would develop paper that can be used without having the picture already drawn on for the child.

They make plain color wonder paper. At least they did. I haven't bought it in awhile. I know they use to sell poster size color wonder paper too. We taped it on the walls and let them go to town so so speak.

 

[CharityLynn]

Crayola makes some crayons and markers that are inside a littel toy. I wish I could remeber what they were called but they remind me of Weebles.

 

[T16GEM]

Color Wonder is where it is at!

Oh yes for sure! I have just packed a couple of Color Wonder sets for our kids on our flight on Monday, it's fantastic stuff, all the color and non of the mess!

Both of ours use really chunky crayons, DS had trouble holding the small ones and would often snap them but he does well with the chunky ones.

 

[bumbershoot]

I found that the washable ones caused MORE of a mess.

Toddlers will gnaw on crayons. And the washable ones then create puddles of colored water/spit wherever they are. So when DS was doing that while I was doing something else, I would find colored clothing (not a problem as I don't mind stains on his clothes), but more importantly, colored floor. We rent, and the colored carpet was BAD. And never did get fully cleaned. I could see the faint blotches even when we moved out.

The normal crayons, however, did not do that. When he drew on the walls, and draw on the walls he definitely did, I'd wait until it got to a breaking point, then take it all off with Magic Eraser while he was sleeping (then wash the walls as you are supposed to do after using that product). I used to do it with every mark, but then I was ALWAYS doing it, LOL.

When he drew on the walls with washable crayon, it didn't wash off! I still had to take the Magic Eraser to it.


We never used the fat crayons, not sure why....

But in terms of sheer color, I like Prang brand FAR more than Crayola. Gorgeous colors.

 

[luvsJack]

They make plain color wonder paper. At least they did. I haven't bought it in awhile. I know they use to sell poster size color wonder paper too. We taped it on the walls and let them go to town so so speak.

Do they? Good! When dd was little all they had was the color books or maybe that is just all we had around here.

Then that is definitely what I would recommend. Freedom for creativity and mom not having to hover to stop the messes. Can't ask for more!

 

[diznygirl]

I found that the washable ones caused MORE of a mess.

Toddlers will gnaw on crayons. And the washable ones then create puddles of colored water/spit wherever they are. So when DS was doing that while I was doing something else, I would find colored clothing (not a problem as I don't mind stains on his clothes), but more importantly, colored floor. We rent, and the colored carpet was BAD. And never did get fully cleaned. I could see the faint blotches even when we moved out.

The normal crayons, however, did not do that. When he drew on the walls, and draw on the walls he definitely did, I'd wait until it got to a breaking point, then take it all off with Magic Eraser while he was sleeping (then wash the walls as you are supposed to do after using that product). I used to do it with every mark, but then I was ALWAYS doing it, LOL.

When he drew on the walls with washable crayon, it didn't wash off! I still had to take the Magic Eraser to it.


We never used the fat crayons, not sure why....

But in terms of sheer color, I like Prang brand FAR more than Crayola. Gorgeous colors.

We had the same problem with the washable crayons. DD was coloring one day and her whole face was red - gave her poor mommy a heart attack! Turns out it was red crayon that was very yummy. Washed her off - and let her have the non-washable crayons.

It depends on your child - DS never put things in his mouth but DD always did. Neither one drew on the walls, so we were good with non-washable.

LOVE the triangle ones, especially for dinners out. I spent half the time reaching under the table for crayons that rolled off before finding the triangle ones.

 

[HelenePA]

Crayola makes some crayons and markers that are inside a littel toy. I wish I could remeber what they were called but they remind me of Weebles.

Tadoodles they are rather expensive at 6$ for 3 of them they came out after my 4 yr old was little and my 1 yr old just uses what ever he finds on the floor but they might be worth it?

 

[shellybaxter]

Young children need to learn to use crayons in addition to markers. Markers require far less control than crayons. More control is needed to learn to write, so crayons are important. Chunky crayons are the best for toddlers