Parent Club Tests -- CRAYOLA

Our Parent Club test panel was called on recently to sample some new Crayola Beginnings products. Everyone loves Crayola of of course we said YES! The Beginnings line is a new line of art tools for children aged 18-36 months; created with the help of occupational therapists, experts on hand and grasp development for kids. Of course, Parent Club is completely inclusive and therefore our test panel not only included the target age group but also invited toddlers & school aged kids to give the products a try.


TadDoodles Washable First Marks --

Suggested Price: $6.99


These egg-shaped characters are balanced so they tip & tilt but don't topple. The ink delivery system allows the markers to dry out in between uses and then be reactivated by dabbing them on the next use. Washable too!


Parent Club Panel: "They are way too big for 18 month old hands especially if you want them to use them to colour or scribble or what ever. The wide grasp is too wide for them to hold and is too wide for them to have any sort of control over writing or drawing or scribbling. (Mom/Teacher; kids 18mths, 2yrs, 4 yrs) " That quote sums up the general feedback. Too big a grasp for the little ones. The toddlers and school aged children liked the shapes.



TaDoodles Washable All-In-One Paint --

Suggested Price: $6.99

Similar to the markers, these paints are palm grasp shaped helping develop gross to fine motor skills. The paints can dry out and then be reactivated by dabbing on the next use. No dipping, spilling or dripping. Washable.


Parent Club Panel: "My kids were frustrated by the blotchy flow of the paints. They resorted to banging the characters on the table to try to reactivate the flow -- banging the table is not what I call a quiet art activity (Mom; kids 4yrs & 7 yrs)." The entire panel threw back a big hands down to this product. It still made a mess as the younger testers didn't realize which end was down and held it any which way they could. Perhaps a shape of a car or truck would work better as the kids would be able to understand wheels down. Plus they could make roadways as the car moved. These egg-shaped characters appear too much like balls for little ones to comprehend how to move them across the page.



Crayola Beginnings Washable Triangular Crayons -- Suggested Price: $3.48

Guiding little fingers towards a writing grip this product helps children learn the tripod position for controlled drawing (and writing later on). For ages 24 mnths +. Washable.



Parent Club Panel: "We liked these crayons. The chunky sizes was easy to hold. I didn't know about a tripod position until my child's teacher discussed it on parent-night. I wish we had these years ago (Mom; kid 4yrs)". This product was enjoyed by all panelists. Bold colours created fun art work by the children. The testers recommended this product for fun and learning for toddlers and school aged kids.

According to the Crayola website; art enables kids to hone three very important skills;

" Think, Choose, Act". As they think about what they will draw, choose the colours and then create their art...they are problem solving. Whether your child grows up to be a scientist, an artist, a chef or a parent -- Think, Choose, Act will be essential skills in their lives. Encourage your child, through art, to develop these very important talents.

Our thanks to Veritas and Crayola for giving us this interesting challenge.