If you have a toddler who is constantly on the go, you know how much attention they want and need. While your toddler will likely enjoy playing some of the same games over and over again, it’s nice to try something new once in a while. If it seems like you’ve run out of new things to do together, art is a great way to spend some quiet, quality time. You could try making pottery art out of clay or creating paper plates out of glued macarons. If none of these grab your child’s attention, try buying a small-sized children’s easel.

One of the best things about the children’s comfort is its versatility. With one of these little easels you can get a great bang for your buck. On one side of the easel you will find a chalkboard that your children can color to their hearts’ delight. If you buy them the sidewalk chalk, they will really enjoy holding those fat chunks in their little hands. On the other side you will find a dry erase board. This side is the one that really has a lot to offer. If you trust your kids enough with the dry erase markers not to make too much of a mess, you can provide these for them to draw on. If they tend to drift off the easel, you can substitute the markers with some of the normal washable markers and just wash them off with water. A washable marker on your wall or carpet is sure to be a lot easier to clean up than some spilled glitter polish! The dry-erase board is probably magnetic too, so you can buy those fun letter magnets and teach your child to spell some fun words, too.

In addition to the dry-erase board on this side of the easel, you’ll probably find a small clip located at the top of the easel that you can clip some paper onto. With a piece of paper attached to the top, your child can paint too. They even have little paint holders that only allow the brush to touch the paint and not your fingers. This will come in handy if your child likes to finger paint!

Making art together with your child is something that you will both treasure. There is something special about creating something that is so unique and fun that it will bring both of you back to the easel day after day. While you may not be working with an electric clay extruder, you will find that the most basic supplies will be best for you.