Crayola Washable Crayons: Must Haves for All Parents of Toddlers - Part II

I started buying crayons for my daughter after her first birthday. Her very first pack of crayons was of a generic brand. I soon discovered that she has an interest in drawing, not only on paper but everything she could find, including the television. Foolishly, I assumed that all crayons were washable but to my dismay the red, blue, and black scribbles would not wash off completely. My walls have since been decorated by the various colors now in the form of smears that are slightly faded but clearly visible on our white walls.

Since then, I have bought her the Kids First Large Washable Crayons (8 ct.). These crayons are larger than the standard size of most crayons. Because of this, they provide a much better grip and they don't break as easily. Averaging about three dollars a pack, they are worth the extra dollar or two. With a warm sponge or wash cloth, you can easily remove the crayon from the walls and other surfaces, streak-free. It definitely frees my time not having to scrub to no avail like with the generic brand.

My other favorite Crayola products for my daughter are: Tadoodles First Marks (3 ct.), Triangular Washable Crayons (8 ct.), and Tadoodles Crayon Buddies.

Tadoodles First Marks are markers in the form of adorable animals (Set 1 has a frog, a dog, and a monkey, Set 2 has a hippo, a chicken, and a pig). Although they are markers, you never have to worry about losing the caps and the ink drying out. They are easily reactivated with a few dabs on a piece of paper so your child is ready to draw in no time. They are designed to fit into your child's hand and is proven to help develop your child's motor skills. My daughter loves the animal shapes and scribbles happily, and I can let her because they are washable and easily come off clothes and skin. The Tadoodles First Marks average about six dollars and are available in stores like Wal-Mart and Target. A word of advice though... watch out for scribbles on light-colored furniture, like the sofa! You may have a harder time getting it off since you can't simply throw the sofa in the washing machine.

The Triangular Washable Crayons are similar to the Kids First Large Washable Crayons. Instead of the usual round shape of the crayons, these have a triangular shape and are supposed to help guide your child's hand into more of a writing grip. My daughter loves to draw but she holds the crayons in an awkward manner, holding the crayon, tip up, then she turns the tip down towards the paper. I have yet to see her change her grip, but I still like the crayons and their wash-ability. They are relatively inexpensive, the price averaging the same as their counterparts, about three dollars.

Similar to the Tadoodles First Marks, Tadoodles Crayon Buddies are in colorful shapes, although instead of animals, they are cartoon versions of crayons. The tips of the Crayon Buddies are pointed the same as standard crayons but allows your child to have a better grip. Like the other products I talked about previously, they wash off most surfaces easily. The average price for the Crayon Buddies is about seven dollars.

Most of these Crayola products are available in most retail stores nationwide, in stores like Target, Wal-Mart, and Office Depot. They make great gifts and truly let your child show their creative side.