My First Crayola art supplies

I think it’s good for kids to get messy. I wholeheartedly encourage my kids to dig in the dirt, cover their hands with paint, and generally make messes. But, while there is a time and a place for getting dirty {for instance, when a bath is in the near future}, there are many times that a big mess is the last thing I want {for instance, when I’m trying to get dinner on the table}.

Not one to stifle a creative inclination just because I don’t have time to clean up after, I love Crayola’s new line of beginner arts and crafts products called My First Crayola that bring out the inner Van Gough without all the mess. From crayons that don’t roll all the way to “clear” markers and paints, Crayola makes it easy for even the littlest artists to make masterpieces, all by themselves.

My introduction to the My First Crayola line couldn’t have come at a better time because I have a little guy who has no idea he’s little and is constantly begging for markers {mostly the permanent variety} or just scooting himself to grab them when no one is watching. Instead of allowing him access to all the pens and hoping he doesn’t make my curtains his canvas, I was just looking into getting him some washable art supplies when I heard about the My First Crayola line.

Once they arrived, I knew they were going to be perfect for him, and for my daughter. Being able to set him at the table with a pad of his paper and a few stamps and markers has been a lifesaver, especially since my daughter and I have been knee deep {literally} in an ongoing wedding craft project that involved making four flowergirl dresses by hand. Because I don’t want my son anywhere near scissors needles, or the dress I lovingly crafted during naps for three week, I love that I can give him his own art project on his tray and not worry about what I might come back to.

My absolute favorite of the My First Crayola line is the Color Wonder series that I was introduced to a few years back when my daughter was little. If you are unfamiliar with the line, basically Color Wonder markers all look like normal markers on the outside, but when you take off their colorful caps, they appear clear. Even though they look clear and like they wouldn’t be able to write on anything at all, when you write on the special Color Wonder papers they come with, they magically show up as their specific cap color.

The first time I saw the Color Wonder line I was skeptical they would work, but once I saw them in action, I had to admit they were pretty magical. What makes this really cool is that the markers don’t write on anything but the special paper – not the desk, the countertop, the floor, you name it. No more worrying about if the pen rolls off the table onto the floor, that stamps might get left with the cap off in a bag, or that it will get all over their hands, and then my entire house, when touch everything.

Recently, they have expanded the line to include Color Wonder finger paints, and, like their pens and markers, these are also super cool. Like the Color Wonders pens, the paint is clear and doesn’t mark everything up, but when used with their special paper, it creates an awesome rainbow pattern that my daughter was incredibly excited about. Like traditional finger paints, your fingers do get a little messy and sticky, but cleanup is still a hundred times easier with clear paint, and I’ve actually let them finger paint numerous times in the past week because they love it so much.

Even though I love the Color Wonder line, there are certain times you just need regular markers and for those times there’s the Crayola Washable Markers designed just for little hands. Instead of thin markers shaped like pens, the My First Crayola markers are actually shaped like animals and this makes them easier for chubby little fingers to grip. My son specifically likes to make the cow “mooooo!” while he writes, which I think is adorable on numerous different levels.

For times when we are out of the house, I love the new My First Crayola Dry-Erase Activity Mat that is perfect for on the go creativity. Instead of markers, the Dry-Erase Activity Mat uses Crayola’s Washable Triangular Dry-Erase Crayons that I love so much. Not only do I love that it uses crayons instead of markers, I also love that the crayons are triangular in shape, and thus do not roll off restaurant tables, off my kitchen counter, or simply out of reach of my little artist and I love that they are easier for my littlest to grip. When the art is done, you simply wipe off, or you can just fold up the activity mat and place it back in your diaper bag for later.

From crayons and markers to stamps, activity mats, and on-the-go fun, the My First Crayola line gets a huge thumbs up from us. I just love watching my kiddos draw and create together and I marvel at all the amazing things they imagine up and then bring to life in their art. The only downside? I think I’m going to need a bigger artwork wall to house all of their masterpieces!

The My First Crayola line includes all of the items I’ve mentioned in this review as well as dozens more products specially designed for young children. It’s the perfect way to introduce your little one to art and capture those precious first scribbles, but it’s also a great way to talk to your child about what they think, feel, and dream about because drawing and doodling gives them so many more ways to express themselves than simply with language.

Want to try out the My First Crayola line at an amazing discount? Be sure to pick up one of the specially marked boxes of Cheerios for a $5.00 off coupon right inside the box!

Learn more about the tools from Crayola that make it easy for parents to help children develop their creativity, by visiting www.Crayola.com and liking Crayola on Facebook!

A big thank you to Crayola for sending a selection of art products for the purposes of this review as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. The information, products, coupon, video and additional My First CrayolaTM gift pack was provided by Crayola® and Cheerios through MyBlogSpark.