Magnetic easel/board

[lmk1]

Hi, I'd like to get a magnetic easel or board for ds. I'd prefer to get something small for a table top where we can play together with it, but I'm open to get something fancier that's an easel too, and has room for painting,etc. I need some recommendations. I see the Alex toys one is recommended in some places that it could be used till teen years, but some of the amazon reviews say the legs are flimsy and it's not high quality for the money. I was thinking that Ikea had one, but I can't find it on their website, and it's quite a drive to go out there if they don't have it. Also, the Step 2 easel looks good. Do you have one and what did you like/not like about it?

[michellebelle]

We have the Step 2 easel. We like it - it's sturdy, easy to clean, and the tray is nice because you can store paper, art supplies, etc. in between the two sides of the easel.

Right now, DS is too small to reach the clips at the top, so I end up helping a lot when it comes to changing paper, and sometimes he gets frustrated with it if he tries to paint/color at the top of the paper, but as he gets taller that won't be an issue.

[lmk1]

Originally Posted by michellebelle

We have the Step 2 easel. We like it - it's sturdy, easy to clean, and the tray is nice because you can store paper, art supplies, etc. in between the two sides of the easel.

Right now, DS is too small to reach the clips at the top, so I end up helping a lot when it comes to changing paper, and sometimes he gets frustrated with it if he tries to paint/color at the top of the paper, but as he gets taller that won't be an issue.

Do you get "easel" paper or what paper do you use? does the magnetic side work well? Letters don't slide down?

[michellebelle]

Originally Posted by lmk1

Do you get "easel" paper or what paper do you use? does the magnetic side work well? Letters don't slide down?

We use easel paper and/or extra large sheets of paper.

The magnetic side works well and it comes with letters. It's not super strong, so you couldn't...say, use the magnets to hold up art work on that side (I don't think, but honestly I've never tried it) and the magnetic side is also a whiteboard, so you can use dry erase markers on that side, too.

[galincognito]

we also have the step 2. dd1 loves drawing on the dry erase side and it's super easy to clean. dd2 loves to climb on the tray dd1 really likes the magnetic letters that came with it but i haven't tried holding anything on the board with them.