Looking for an easy way to accomodate my son drawing on walls?

[mommyshoppinghabit]

I know, I should just say "no!" and snatch the crayons and markers out of his hands as soon as he starts approaching the walls, but I'm kind of laissez-faire when it comes to something that will keep ds quiet for a few minutes even if it devalues my house
My walls are currently painted with latex flat white. I've tried the Magic Eraser but for some reason, it's not working so magically for me, especially on the "washable" marker markings. And even on the crayon marks, I have to use a considerable amount of elbow grease. So, now I'm thinking we'll repaint the entire living room with a glossy finish (or would that be satin?) so it will be easier to wipe, but is that right? What about some kind of paint that is meant to be drawn on (but not chalkboard paint b/c I don't like dark colors in the living room)?

[weliveintheforest]

What about setting him up an easel or hanging large sheets of blank newspaper on the wall? do you think he might use that?

[sunnysandiegan]

How old is the budding artist?

Packing paper is really fun for kids (and free; ask family and friends and neighbors to save it for your DS). I unwad it from a package and lay it on the floor and let DD do what she wants. I traced her entire body once (it was that big) and let her design her own outfit and color it in over the course of a few weeks. That is hanging in our kitchen to this day.

You could always hang it on the wall in his favorite coloring spot. Butcher paper can be purchased inexpensively, also.

An easel is a good idea, too.

I would try to think of this behavior in terms of how it might manifest later on versus how it is quiet time right now.

[34me]

Hang a piece of malamine (you can get it in sheets at a lumber yard- cheaper than a real white board) and give him some dry erase markers

[4evermom]

I'd hang up a big piece of paper and positively redirect him towards it. Just say "This area is for drawing" or "Draw on the paper" rather than saying "no" and snatching. Maybe mount one of those big rolls on the wall, or just tape up shelving paper. Although you might not mind scrubbing and repainting your walls, I really appreciate it when visiting kids don't make me have to!

I think chalkboard paint comes in colors, now...

[mamadelbosque]

We have an aquadoodle wall mat thing - you stick it to walls with tacks or that sticky stuff for putting up posters, or whatever, then you can draw on it - with water!! Its great

[Denvergirlie]

chalkboard paint?

Since it sounds like you will need to repaint the walls anyways, might as well give a space now he can draw on.

[Tizzy]

I second the chalkboard paint, it's really easy to apply and comes in a variety of colours!

[Delicateflower]

Satin or eggshell is much more washable than flat. Semi gloss or gloss are too shiny for walls.

You can also make your own soap-based crayons.

[Eman'smom]

Originally Posted by Delicateflower

Satin or eggshell is much more washable than flat. Semi gloss or gloss are too shiny for walls.

You can also make your own soap-based crayons.

Just as an FYI, Magic Erasers take all the sheen off, regardless of finish.

[proudmomof4]

I'd also try to go for the "designated area", whether you prefer the wall, the floor, or a door. (Even though the door might only work for you if you fix some black- or whiteboard there - doors in the U. S. usually don't have a flat surface but have these "panels", don't they?)

I've even seen houses where one wall in the child's room was declared an official painting wall - maybe that would work in your house?

[philomom]

Garage walls? Workshop walls?

[happysmileylady]

When DD1 went through that phase (I think most kids do at some point) I bought a large chalk board at a garage sale and hung it at her level in her room. I also bought a BUNCH of sidewalk chalk (because it comes in much nicer colors and IMO colors better anyway) and told her that was what she could use to draw on her chalkboard wall with. And most times, she stayed on the chalkboard. Plus, much cheaper than chalkboard paint and more easily removed. Bonus, chalk comes off the walls easier so if she "missed" it was much easier to clean.

[mattemma04]

Paint a wall with chalk board paint. Tape some butcher paper to the wall.Get some of those markers that are for windows if you have some low windows to draw on. In the summer put some paper on a large scrap of wood outside and then let the kids go crazy with hand paints.

[Ygle]

I use toothpaste to get stuff off the walls... magic erasers never worked for me, left some funky film and took away the sheen (but not the markings!) as mentioned.

I also have a big dry erase magnet board that I just move around to where ever the kids go, as well as taping up butcher paper on the walls and also covered a big cardboard box house in shelf paper that worked great for painting and drawing on with dry erase markers and then the kids would wash it and paint and draw some more.

[blessedwithboys]

Originally Posted by mommyshoppinghabit

I know, I should just say "no!" and snatch the crayons and markers out of his hands as soon as he starts approaching the walls

no you should not, that is very disrespectful. you should honor the impulse by setting up a "yes environment". hang some butcher paper on the walls anywhere your LO might want to color, and then tell him this is where he CAN color.

[zebra15]

Just and FYI crayons are wax and paint does not like to stick to wax so even if you planning on painting over the crayons are you going to have one heck of a time.

I agree with the PP about how this could manifest itself later. Get an art easel, get a dry erase board, hang up paper but do not color on the walls.

[dbsam]

I agree w/the pp’s about setting up designated areas to create art. My children never tried to draw on the walls - yet - (and I am not as easy-going as you so I would not have wanted them to) but I encouraged them to color on the windows when they were younger and they still love it. My husband thought it would lead to them coloring on other surfaces that we didn't want but it never has. We use the Lyra Wax-o-Glass Window Crayons and have gone through too many packages to count. We all love it - even my husband and I draw/color on the windows. It is really easy to clean off but does smear on the hands a bit. If you do not have large windows or glass doors, a glass coffee table works too. Our favorite ‘canvas’ is the glass slider in the kitchen.

We also have easels in the playroom for chalk creations and table-top easels in the bedrooms for other types of artwork.

[MrsMike]

We got Ds an easel for $15 bucks at Ikea. We also painted one wall with chalkboard paint. Now, I HATE white walls, so we used purple chalkboard paint. I told him that it was the only wall he could draw on. I know you were reluctant about chalkboard paint due to dark colors, but it actually comes in every color, including light ones. In fact, I think it comes in white. If not, it definitely comes in a taupe/beige color. My friend has it in her kitchen.

[*bejeweled*]

We got bath crayons and allowed DD to draw on the bath tiles anytime she wanted. We'd often have huge murals in there. Way cool.

She enjoyed cleaning it up too. We'd give her a sponge and she'd have at it.