Is there something in the water? Are we creating a nation of young artists? WoodenToyShop.co.uk has recently experienced high demand for children's easels and especially for the John Crane Easel. This has reminded me of Aunty Lucy's playschool in the mid 1970s when we'd all put on one of our Daddy's old shirts, backwards, before we were let anywhere near the paintbrushes and easels. Who couldn't smile at the thought of a dozen three year olds doing their best to create a colourful masterpiece while not spilling paint on the floor or being tempted into a little impromptu face painting?
Pleasant memories aside, I can’t remember anything about the makeup of the easels we used back in those days. I don’t believe for one moment, however, that they were anywhere near as clever and multifunctional as this magnificent wooden easel. For kids (or maybe parents) who prefer chalks to paints, one side of the easel is a traditional chalk board which can be used time and time again for writing or drawing. The opposite side is a white board for use with dry wipe markers and is also magnetic and ideal for teaching children the alphabet and basic spelling. A roll of paper can be attached to the top of the easel to provide an instant canvas for a paintbrush wielding young artist.
One of the most useful aspects of this easel is the fact that two children can play/paint/draw/write at once - this will be appreciated by harassed Mums and Dads. When the artistic session is over, the easel folds flat and can be easily stored under a bed, flat against the wall or in a cupboard. The handy shelf that sits in the middle of the frame at the bottom of the boards is perfect for storing paint pots, brushes and other materials.
We offer a range of accessories alongside our easels, including rolls of paper, finger paints, poster paints, paint brushes, coloured chalk, dry wipe marker pens, board erasers and pain cups. All of these will complement your children’s’ easel and encourage your kids to develop their artistic sides.
Much has been written about the benefits of artistic play and art therapy. In general terms, we know that painting and drawing provides young children an opportunity to exercise and develop their growing imaginations and to tell stories. Children will spend many happy and quiet hours working on a painting and parents will enjoy listening to their son or daughter as they talk them through their masterpiece. Alongside this creative and imaginative development, children can also improve fine motor skills as they use paintbrushes, chalks and pens to transfer their ideas onto canvas.
Judging by the demand for our children’s easels, we’ve no doubt that a new generation of creative and imaginative children is enjoying time spent in fun and beneficial artistic play. We may even run a painting competition in due course to check out these budding Picassos!
