My First Crayola

I love the idea of doing thing like art and messy play with B but I don't much like the mess. As we're in the middle of a house move/ refurbishment there is absolutely no where to get down and dirty (or painty) so I've been looking for a creative play solution that takes place, ideally, somewhere other than my house.

I considered it somewhat of a miracle when I discovered My First Crayola. While other, more trendy, brands don't think that materials such as felt pens are appropriate until at least two years, the creative stalwart from my own childhood say 'Go ahead, give these to your one year old. It's cool. They wash off." 

...and they're not wrong either. We now take these lovely pens to cafes, where B proceeds to colour in his own face, while I try to clean said face with a (fairly vigorous) wet-wipe-wiping. You wouldn't think that cleaning with a wet wipe alone would be sufficient for felt pens, but for these beauties, it is. 

B also likes to colour in his tongue but, as the products are non toxic ( and because, unlike paint, he can't swallow very much) I'm fairly relaxed about them going in his mouth too.  The pens have been used as drum sticks and B's favourite thing to do is practise putting the caps but on but he does occasionally draw lines on the ( expensive Melissa and Doug)  notepad I bought, and when he does the look on his face is magical.