Keep your little one entertained with these (Crayola Kids First Markers)

Member Name: azana

Product:	Crayola Kids First Markers
Date:	09/04/09 (166 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Designed for younger artists

Disadvantages: Made of plastic

I dread to think how many felt tips and markers I have bought in my time as a parent - I do try and encourage more eco-friendly alternatives like paints and crayons, but somehow there is nothing like felt tips to get my little artists adrawing.

I purchased a packet of these Kid's First Markers this morning as they are currently (April 2009) at the bargain price of £1.60 (rrp £2) at Tesco. We have purchased other markers in the range before but not this pack- I have to say I am really impressed.

The markers are a nice chunky size which appears to be just right for my two and a half year old's pudgy little hand - the pack says they are suitable from age 1. I have been training her to put the lids back on all pens as her not doing so drives me (and her sister) completely mad and leads to waste as the pens dry up. These pens' lids are easy enough to pull on and, more importantly to me put back on.

What makes these pens different is the actual nib, which the manufacturer describes as "gumball". They are shorter than the norm and more rounded and seem to be well designed for the younger child to angle - in any case I am absolutely thrilled that with this pen my daughter has drawn her very first balloon - it was actually recognisable - so success in my book.

The markers are supposed to be easy to wash off - many pens make this claim and they are not, however in this case I am happy to say that the pens live up to the claim, those podgy hands are clean with no scrubbing required, the green has left some slight trace but apart from that good as new! A little mark on her white t-shirt came off well too.

Overall I am really impressed with these pens though design wise it would have been nice to have a box that folded back so the child could see the colours that were in the box and pull them out and put them back in - we have put them in a pot on her craft table instead. These pens would make a fantastic first birthday present with a colouring book and are the right size to be slipped into a handbag and taken on restaurant trips - always good.

I would thoroughly recommend these pens as a first foray into using felt tips - the colour range is not huge but wide enough to provide plenty of fun. At the bargain price I paid they are almost worth stocking up on as the cheap pens just do not last as long as the crayola branded pens.

Summary: Great pens for the budding artist