Do your kids want to draw the shapes you’ve taught them, only they want to do it on your wall? Drawing pictures is a natural part of childhood and an important part of a kid’s development. It pulls out their imagination and develops creativity.
Drawing boards are not a substitute for drawing on paper as we did in the good ol’ days. Doodling and drawing on a drawing board are stimulating in slightly different ways and it allows parents to bring this amazing activity anywhere you go.
Drawing exercises kids’ fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and even their color perception. For a child, drawing is engaging and stimulating, but sometimes you don’t want them scribbling on your walls or car seats – and that’s where the drawing board comes in to save parents!
What Are Drawing Boards?
A drawing or doodle board for kids is a plastic board that kids can write and draw on. It is portable, and because of this, it can keep your toddler occupied during the miles to grandma’s house or the short ride to daycare.
It doesn’t involve any kind of ink so it doesn’t make a mess – another reason it is perfect to take on a road trip. Some parents even claim it to be eco-friendly because it saves you from using paper.
A drawing board is something that most children enjoy immensely because of the natural feel of drawing and creating something out of nothing.
Different Types of Drawing Boards for Toddlers
Watercolor Marker Board
Watercolor drawing boards use water markers. You fill the pens with water and watch your toddler draw. In a few moments, they will giggle as their doodle slowly fades away. If they can’t wait, they can flip it over and draw on the other side.
Magnetic Board
Magnetic drawing boards are plastic boards that come with a “magic” pen. When your toddler uses the pen on the pad, magnetic particles work in such a way as to form a picture. When he is through. With one swipe, he lifts the film off of the light magnetic field and begins again.
Boogie Board (LCD Board)
A Boogie Board houses trillions of liquid crystals between two thin plastic sheets. These tiny crystals line up in spirals. When written on with the magic pen, they cause the crystals to spiral the other direction, which reflects light. To erase, simply press a button that sends a charge between the sheets that are coated with a conducted film, which scatters the crystals again in the other direction.
Light Boards
A light board has a canvas that has a light-accumulating coating. When your child writes on it with a flashlight pen, a picture appears. The darker you can get the room, the brighter their picture turns out.
Etch-a-Sketch (Classic)
A classic Etch-a-Sketch board has a gray screen that’s flat and thick in a plastic, red frame. Left and right white knobs in the lower corners twist to move a stylus, which displaces aluminum powder found on the underside of the screen. When your child turns the knobs, lineographic pictures are created.
The Best Toddler Drawing Boards
KOKODI LCD Writing Tablet
Durable and portable, the KOKODI LCD Writing Tablet for kids uses pressure-sensitive technology on a 10-inch screen. This doodle board engages your toddler’s imagination. The KOKODI makes lines that are full of color and of various thicknesses, depending on how hard your child pushes the stylus.
Press the erase button and empty the screen in only a second. Click the “Lock” key to save content that’s erasable after unlocking. The tablet is shock-resistant. It is 2.44 lbs. and 0.33 in. thick. Fits in purses and backpacks.
- Pressure-sensitive technology
- 10-inch screen
- Erase button
- Lock button
- Shock-resistant
- 9.6 oz. weight
- 9.8 x 6.9 x 0.24 inches
The battery is built into the tablet.
Toyk Aqua Magic Mat
The Toyk Aqua Magic Mat is more than enough merriment for your toddler. It’s a watercolor mat. Just fill the pens with water. Your toddler draws on the mat, and shortly thereafter (3-10 minutes), the drawing magically disappears. The mat has a sea world pattern. Folded into its compact size, it can be great for travel, too.
It’s a great educational toy and a great toy for teaching interaction between kids. Exercises color perception and hand-eye coordination.
- 40 in. x 28 in. doodle mat
- 6 pens
- 8 drawing molds
- 4 drawing templates
- Drawing booklet
- Jigsaw
- Storage
- Water-resistant nylon
- 1.3 lbs. weight
- 14.6 x 10.9 x 2.1 inches
There are no batteries required for this mat.
Crayola Ultimate Light Board
The Crayola Ultimate Light Board is a super-sized tracing board. After your toddler traces, he can light up his designs and show them in the dark. The board is portable and organized with built-in marker storage. Wipe away the old and begin anew.
This board aids with hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- 6 washable gel markers
- Removable tracing panel
- LED light board
- Colorful frame
- Downloadable, printable coloring pages online
- Use pages of coloring books, magazines, or newspapers
- 3.01 lbs. weight
- 2 x 18.25 x 12 inches
The board requires 3 AA batteries. They are not included.
Etch A Sketch, Classic
The Etch A Sketch, Classic Edition has been enjoyed by kids for 50 years. Your child can twist the knobs in the lower corners, move the stylus and create lineographic drawings. Turning the left knob makes the stylus goes left. Turning the right stylus makes it go right. Turning both knobs makes a curve. All they have to do is turn it upside down and shake it to erase the picture.
The Etch A Sketch draws mechanical-looking pictures. This board for toddlers helps with hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- 2 knobs, left and right knobs
- Just shake to erase
- 1.25 lbs. weight
- 9 x 9.13 x 1.63 inches
No batteries are required with this drawing board toy.
Wellchild Magnetic Drawing Board
The Wellchild Magnetic Drawing Board is a multi-function learning toy. It’s colorful with 4 color zones and a magnetic eraser. There is a variety of three stampers, and each board comes with a carry bag for traveling.
- 11.2 oz.
- Magnetic pen with a string
- 5.91 x 3.94 x 0.87 inches
- Carry bag
- 3 stamps
There are no batteries required for this board.
Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad
Fun and exciting, the Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad adjusts automatically for low-light conditions, because it limits the glare from the white LEDs. It aids with hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- Eye-soft technology
- White LEDs
- 3-mode switch (Off/On/Auto)
- 20 tracing paper sheets
- 12 short colored pencils
- 1 #2 pencil
- Dozens of free image tracing template downloads
- 15.06 x 12.38 x 2.38 inches
- 2.44 lbs. weight
- 0.33 in. thick
The pad requires 3 AA batteries. Sold separately.
How Does a Magnetic Drawing Board Work?
Magnetic drawing boards are plastic boards with a section in the middle that is covered in a thin plastic sheet. It also comes with a “magic” pen. The board itself contains a superconducting magnet.
Because there are magnetic particles within the thin layer, when the magic pen is used on the magnetic drawing board, the particles attach to the magnet where your child writes creating a picture. Then, your child swipes to lift the film off the magnet and starts all over.
Magnetic drawing boards are simple, safe and really cool for kids (and adults) to play with.
Why Are Drawing Boards Beneficial for Toddlers?
Drawing boards develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination – just like drawing on paper. They teach problem-solving and visual analysis, as well as helping your child to hone their concentration.
Also, because they are bettering themselves in all of these areas, especially if you are praising their work, they are gaining self-confidence.
Unlike using a pencil and paper, drawing boards allow kids to draw anywhere and in any position. With a drawing board they can practice and improve their fine motor skills while laying down on the couch, in the car or even upside down!
If your child shows interest in drawing, a drawing board will help him bring his passion with him anywhere he go.
Why Should Your Toddler Play with a Drawing Board?
Drawing boards can keep your toddler engaged for hours. Not only is this type of play great for his development but it will also keep him from drawing on your walls and furniture.
More importantly, he will be having fun and learning at the same time.
How to Choose the Best Drawing Board
A toddler can begin using a drawing board as early as one-year-old. The earlier your child begins to write and draw, the better.
Things to Consider When Picking a Water Marker Board
Some things to consider when picking a water marker board are whether you want to always have to fill up those pens. Consider size.
Things to Consider When Picking a Magnetic Board
The main thing you want to consider when buying a magnetic drawing board is the size. Do you want a bigger board, or do you want a smaller, travel-friendly board? You’ll want the pen to be on a string that clips to the frame. Stampers are also nice, and they should also clip to the frame. Also, you will want a carry bag for travel.
Things to Consider When Picking an LCD Board
When choosing an LCD drawing board, you will want a stylus and clip-in holder, one-touch eraser, and vision protection. Consider battery life.
Things to Consider When Picking a Light Board
When choosing a light board, you will want to choose one that is the correct size and consider battery life.
Vikki is the creator of Totsgo and the mother of two children. She is a passionate mother who enjoys assisting other parents.