An easel is a fun toy for toddlers because it usually has more than one activity. This is great for kids because that means parents don’t have to hear the dreaded words “I’m bored” after just a couple of minutes of playing.
Easels make great toys for kids because they help them use their imagination, rather than spend too much time on a screen. When you’re shopping for the best easel for toddlers, there are several things you want to look for to help you choose the right one.
In this article
- Short On Time? Here Are Our Top Three Choices
- Features To Look For
- 8 Best Easels for Toddlers and Kids
- 1. Hape All-in-One Wooden Kid’s Easel with Paper Roll and Accessories
- 2. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel
- 3. Step2 Easel for Two
- 4. Crayola Kids Wooden Easel
- 5. Top Bright Wooden Art Easel
- 6. Delta Children MySize Kids Double-Sided Storage Easel
- 7. BATTOP Art Easel for Kids
- 8. Tomons Art Easel for Kids
- The Bottom Line
Short On Time? Here Are Our Top Three Choices
| Title | Price | Prime | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Award Winning Hape All-in-One Wooden Kid's Art Easel with Paper Roll and Accessories | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel - Dry-Erase Board, Chalkboard, Paper Roller | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Step2 Easel for Two | Kids Double-Sided Art Easel with Magnetic Letters & Numbers | 94-Pc Accessory Set Included | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Features To Look For
Two Surfaces
You want to make sure that the easel you’re choosing has two surfaces. This means more versatile play space for your child. Most easels have a dry erase side and chalkboard on the other side. Each surface allows the child to have different activities.
The dry-erase side can be used with dry-erase markers and erasers. Sometimes this side even comes with clips so that you can attach sheets of papers for kids to write or draw on too.
Durable
We all know that kids can be rough on toys. This is why you want to find a dry erase board that’s durable. Most easels are durable and come with a heavy plastic frame. There are other easels that have wooden frames.
If you choose an easel with a wooden frame, you’ll want to check the connectors to make sure they are sturdy enough and have durable connectors. If they don’t, you may want to opt for one with a plastic frame.
Easy To Clean
Although easels are made for art and messes, you want to get one that’s easy to clean. A plastic surface is usually the easiest one to clean. When you’re looking for the best easel for toddlers, look to see how the easel can be cleaned.
Adjustable
If you want the easel to grow with your child, you want it to be adjustable. Many easels have height adjustments. This allows you to raise the height as your child gets over so that they can continue to play with the easel comfortably.
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Easy To Store
Easels can take up a good amount of space. This is why you want to find one that’s easy to store. You want it to be easy to take it down and put away if you don’t have the space to keep it open all of the time.
Many parents like to be able to fold it flat and store it when their children don’t want to play with the easel.
Accessories
As you search for the best easels for toddlers, keep accessories in mind. Many times easels will come with a replaceable paper roll so kids can rip off a piece and drawer.
This comes in handy because you don’t have to take countless pieces of loose paper to keep kids busy at the easel.
Another accessory to look for is paint or other art supplies. Some sets come with paint jars, brushes, or other accessories. Others come with large clips so you can hold paper or other items securely onto the board.
You can also keep an eye out for magnetic letters to help teach kids the alphabet. Although these letters can get lost, it’s always nice to have them to start.
8 Best Easels for Toddlers and Kids
- Hape All-in-One Wooden Kid’s Easel with Paper Roll and Accessories
- Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel
- Step2 Easel for Two
- Crayola Kids Wooden Easel
- Top Bright Wooden Art Easel
- Delta Children MySize Kids Double-Sided Storage Easel
- BATTOP Art Easel for Kids
- Tomons Art Easel for Kids
1. Hape All-in-One Wooden Kid’s Easel with Paper Roll and Accessories
We like this one as our top pick because it checks all of the boxes that parents look for when it comes to the best easel for toddlers. It has a height adjustment so that it can grow with your child.
It also comes with the all-important paper roll that many kids like to draw on. The paper roll is replaceable so you can always buy refills.
It has three paint pots so kids can practice their art skills. Since there is a magnetic whiteboard on one side and a chalkboard on the other, there is plenty to keep kids busy.
If you have two children, one can play on the chalkboard side and the other one can play on the whiteboard side so that there’s something for everyone.
Parents can also feel good that their child is using safe products because this is made from wood that comes from FSC managed forests as well as non-toxic details. This easel is reasonably priced as well.
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Has chalkboard side and whiteboard side
- Made from safe materials
Cons
- Only comes with paint jars and paper for accessories
2. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel
Melissa & Doug products are a staple in many homes because they’re high-quality toys that kids actually love playing with. This deluxe standing art easel is a good one to put on your list as you shop because it has many accessories that kids will love.
This easel not only has the dry-erase board on one side but also the chalkboard on the opposite side. It also has the paper roll we’ve been talking about as well as a child-safe paper cutter.
With four easy-clip grips and two large plastic trays, kids can display their work and have their artist’s tools right at their fingertips.
The Melissa & Doug easel has a sturdy wooden frame and is adjustable so it can grow with your child. It’s also easy to put together and folds flat for easy storage.
It is a bit pricier than some other easels, but there are several accessories that could make it worth it for many.
Pros
- Has two sides, chalkboard, and whiteboard
- Comes with paper roll and clipper
- Has large clips and two plastic trays
Cons
- A bit expensive compared to other easels
3. Step2 Easel for Two
Here’s another great easel to check out if you’re looking for the best easel for toddlers. Step2 is a well-known name in kids’ products, so it should come as no surprise that this one hits it out of the park.
As with our top choice, this one has a chalkboard side as well as a magnetic erase side. This is also a good choice if you have more than one child who would want to play at the same time.
Each side has heavy-duty clips that can be used for artwork. While this one includes a 94-piece foam magnet letter and a symbol kit, it doesn’t include a paper roll or any paint supplies. So, you need to decide which accessories are more important to you.
This easel folds flat for easy storage so it’s great if you don’t have a lot of room to keep an easel up all the time. One thing to note is that it is not adjustable, so once your child gets too tall, he won’t be able to use it as much.
Pros
- Has chalkboard and whiteboard side
- Comes with heavy-duty clips for artwork
- Comes with 94 piece letter and symbol kit
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Does not include paper roll or pain supplies
- Is not adjustable
4. Crayola Kids Wooden Easel
Crayola also makes a wooden easel that’s worth looking at when you’re searching for the best easels for toddlers. It has two sides, a chalkboard and a dry-erase side that’s also magnetic.
This gives kids three ways to play. They can choose the chalkboard, dry erase side, and the magnetic part so you should never here the words, “I’m bored”.
There is also a paper roll (you know how much we love that) as well as three paint pots and plastic clips. The height is adjustable so it can grow with your child. The maximum height is 42″ while the minimum height is 37″.
It’s not as easily foldable as some of the other models, so keep that in mind as you’re shopping. When it comes to price, it’s pretty much in line with the other easels on the list.
Pros
- Has two sides, chalkboard and magnetic dry erase
- Comes with paper roll & clips
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Not as easy to fold and store as other models
5. Top Bright Wooden Art Easel
This is another fun easel for kids providing them with plenty to keep them busy. As with the other easels, there is a chalkboard side and a dry erase side.
Kids can also take advantage of the paper roll to draw their latest masterpieces. There is also a tray in the middle so kids can share tools as they create.
The easel is adjustable so it can grow with your child. It’s also made with kids in mind with a child-specific screw, an anti-pinch design so little fingers won’t get hurt.
While there is plenty to keep kids busy with this easel, it doesn’t come with painting tools. You do get an eraser, scroll, whiteboard pen, a pair of chalk, and two magnetic stickers. If you were hoping for other accessories, you’re out of luck.
Another thing to consider with this easel is that it may not be as easy to fold up and store like some others. It’s also a bit on the expensive side.
Pros
- Has chalkboard and whiteboard side
- Comes with an eraser, magnetic stickers, and whiteboard pen
- Adjustable
Cons
- No painting accessories
- Not as easy to fold up and store
- A bit expensive
6. Delta Children MySize Kids Double-Sided Storage Easel
If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills easel for your toddler, this one from Delta could be one to consider. There are two sides, one chalkboard and one dry erase magnetic whiteboard.
It comes with storage bins to keep crayons, markers, and whatever else your child may need. It also comes with 33 feet of paper on a roll.
It doesn’t come with any other accessories, and it’s not as portable and easy to fold as some others, so keep that in mind. Also, there are some other ones that offer more features for less.
That’s another factor to consider as you look at this easel and compare it to others. It is made from strong wood and is very surable.
If you just want a simple board that’s durable and don’t care too much about accessories, this one could be a good choice.
Pros
- Has a chalkboard and magnetic dry erase board
- Convenient storage bins
- Comes with 33 feet of paper
Cons
- Expensive for what it offers
- Not very portable or easy to store
- Doesn’t include many accessories
7. BATTOP Art Easel for Kids
This easel from BATTOP is a fun choice because it has some cute accessories. It has two-sides, a chalkboard and the magnetic dry erase board on the other side. We like this one because the easel part comes off so that kids can draw just about anywhere.
Besides looking kid-friendly with its bright colors, this easel also comes with one roll of paper, one eraser, one box of chalk, and a holder, as well as a watercolor pen and much more.
The easel is also adjustable so your child can play with it for a few years before outgrowing it. It’s also easy to fold up and stores flat making it a good choice if you don’t have a lot of room to keep it up all the time.
If you don’t want a wooden easel, this one is a solid choice for a plastic one because it’s made from high-quality environmentally-friendly plastic.
8. Tomons Art Easel for Kids
This is a fun choice when looking for the best easel for toddlers. As soon as you see it, it has a child-like appearance that appeals to little ones. They’ll also love it because it includes two surfaces, a chalkboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other.
It’s also easy to adjust so kids can use it for a few years. While it doesn’t come with a paper roll, it does have an eraser, chalk, magnets, and dry erase markers.
There is also a storage tray in the middle to hold all of the things they’re using on the board. The easel also comes off the stand easily to make it more portable.
This lets kids move it around the house and draw wherever they want (as long as mom and dad approve).
While this easel does have some cool extras like the removable easel, it is more expensive than many of the other toddler easels. In the end, it really depends on what’s most important to you.
Pros
- Has chalkboard and magnetic whiteboard
- Easel is removable
- Comes with markers and other accessories
- Storage tray in the middle
Cons
- No paper roll included
- More expensive than some other easels
The Bottom Line
When it comes to finding the best easel for toddlers, you need to figure out what features are the most important to you to narrow down your choices.
We chose the Hape All-in-One Wooden Kid’s Easel with Paper Roll and Accessories as our favorite because it has just the right mix of everything. It’s adjustable, has the paper roll as well as the two sides for kids to draw and be creative.
We especially liked this one because it came with the paint pods. This makes painting easier and a little less messy.
This one is a great choice because kids will still want to play with it as they get older because it doesn’t look babyish. This will score lots of points as your little one becomes a “big kid.”
As you search for the best easel for toddlers, think about what your little one would enjoy the most and which one fits your budget to find the perfect fit.
