LOVE EM! LOVE EM! LOVE EM!!!!!
our ds has been using these since just over 2yrs and i wish i would have let him use them earlier! the washable crayons from crayola or whatever, break chip, rub off on everything!! but stockmar not only has brilliant color but also refuses to break and doesnt rub off on even the sweatiest little palms! although they are not washable, they come off on hard surfaces with Orange Glo or any other wood polish VERY easily. overall, coloring is tidier now than with the convenient washable crayons we used for way too long. also, they last for a really really long time! a freind has had the same set in her homeschool preschool for a year and they are pretty much the same size as when she bought them. personally, we like the sticks. the blocks are supposed to be easier for little hands but i think the sticks are more controllable for drwaing. ds wants the mark to be where he places the crayon, that does not really happen with the blocks and he is usually not very happy about that! i even have a hard time using the blocks. best bet would be to get a combo pack of both sticks and blocks that stockmare sells. good luck and happy coloring!!!