An easel is a perfect sidekick to a young, creative mind. It can keep your child preoccupied for hours and keep the space around them neater.
They can help your little ones with pre-writing skills too as the vertical angle needed on the paper requires more strength and coordination than regular pads of A4 paper which helps boost their fine and gross motor skills.
And it might allow them to paint the next masterpiece (painting ceramic mugs can be a fun activity for kids) and become a Junior Picasso even.
But which are the best kids easels for your budding artist?
I share 3 of the top picks here...
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These Are The Best Easels For Kids
OUR TOP PICK
Easels don’t have to be one dimensional. Most people think they are used for drawing on and then you use the next piece of paper.
Not any more! The Delta Children MySize Kids Double-Sided easel works in a grand total of four ways.
One side is a chalkboard while the opposite side is a dry erase magnetic board. With 33 feet of white craft paper, this can also be used as a blank canvas for crayons or paints.
It is a hard task keeping your kid’s play area neat and tidy.
Although this is nigh on impossible, every little helps.
The Delta easel contains two spaces underneath to store crafting supplies once they have finished.
This is a durable easel with quality craftsmanship.
It is constructed from strong wood that should give many years of enjoyment and fun for kids.
It has been tested to the highest standards to ensure its utmost safety.
It is also available in three colors of Bianca white, gray, and dark chocolate to fit right in with your decor.
Pros
- Multipurpose double-sided design with a chalkboard, magnetic dry erase board, and 33 feet of craft paper for paints or crayons
- Includes two fabric storage bins to keep crafting supplies in for a tidier environment
- Perfect height for toddler and younger elementary school kids
- Highly durable - made from strong wood for long-lasting use
- Comes in three different colors to suit any home decor
Cons
- It doesn’t fold down once it is set up so will always be a fixture in your room
EDITORS CHOICE
Next up is a superb easel from the renowned brand Melissa & Doug.
These have been at the forefront of creating top-quality products to help children’s learning and creativity skills.
The Deluxe Wooden Standing Art Easel does just this.
Kids will spend hours using this easel having endless fun.
This is another multipurpose easel including a chalkboard, dry erase board, a child-safe paper cutter, four clip-grips, two larger removable plastic trays, and a locking paper roll holder.
All of these features help build children’s fine motor skills whilst having fun.
This Deluxe Art easel is height adjustable and designed for ages 3 and over allowing kids of different ages to create and develop strong motor skills.
You’ll be happy to know it is extremely easy to assemble with a sturdy wooden frame for many years of creativity.
Pros
- Has an array of features including a safe paper cutter, 2 plastic trays to keep chalk and pens tidy, and 4 easy-clip grips
- The chalkboard and dry-erase board surfaces are very easy to clean with a cloth or towel
- Folds flat for convenient, easy storage
- Height adjustable to suit kids of the ages 3 and over
- Its bi-fold wooden frame allows two children to use the easel simultaneously to keep them occupied
Cons
- Paints, paintbrushes, cups, chalk, and other supplies are sold separately
BEST VALUE
If you want your child to be preoccupied for hours whilst learning and having fun, the Joyooss Wooden Easel will do just that.
Using this will help inspire creative learning with its magnetic green board on one side and a traditional chalkboard on the other.
These come with clip-grips to keep their work in place too.
This easel is wonderful as it can be used for ages 3 to 12.
The height can be adjusted from 37-inches to 50-inches with a board size of 19.25-inches x 19.25-inches.
These adjustments will save you money over time as kids will be able to use it from kindergarten all the way through to elementary school.
Made from high-quality wood, the Joyooss easel contains no harmful formaldehyde and is compliant with international standards testing.
This is a completely safe easel for kids to use.
Not only that but it comes with an array of accessories such as a roll of 16ft drawing paper, a storage box, a box of solid water chalk, 3 markers of black, blue, and red colors, magnetic letters/math set, 2 erasers, a cloth, and 6 magnets.
What more could you ask for?
Pros
- Each side of this easel is magnetic for added use of numbers and letters
- Environmentally friendly containing no formaldehyde and very safe for children’s use.
- Made from high-quality material that will last many years
- Suitable for ages 3 to 12 so it will save money going forward
- Includes an abundance of accessories for a full learning and creative experience
Cons
- Quite hard to clean down after use
RUNNER UP
If you’re looking for a sturdy, well-crafted easel, look no further than the KidKraft Deluxe Wood Easel.
This is made with wood composite ensuring stability, durability, and a solid structure.
A highlight of this easel is its inclusion of a paper dispenser that attaches to the top. This is handy as you can refill it once the paper has been used up.
The KidKraft Deluxe easel is aimed at younger ages and beginners.
Nonetheless, its height can be adjusted to suit different ages if required.
Some superb additions to this easel are 2 sealable, spill-proof paint cups to prevent any paint from getting over the child or surroundings.
Its double-sided boards include a chalkboard and dry-erase surface.
There is also the inclusion of useful trays for storing crayons, markers, and other art supplies.
This easel combines creativity, style, and functionality to look at home in any space.
Its stylish design and color will match most decor and room settings.
Pros
- Made with wood composite ensuring a durable, long-lasting, and stable design
- Includes 1 roll of art paper so your child can start creating right away
- Double-sided boards of dry-erase and chalkboard surface for an array of creative styles
- Includes useful trays for storing art supplies to keep the space tidier
- Comes with two sealable, spill-proof paint cups to prevent paint from spilling and making a mess
Cons
- Assembly time can take some time with some reporting up to 1.5 hours
- Not suitable for children over the ages of 6
Best Kids Easels Buying Guide
Now we have looked at the top 5 kids easels and gone through their pros and cons, there are some factors you should consider before going out and buying one.
Here are some helpful tips that can help you find the right easel for your child.
Durability
It is important to consider the durability of an easel as one that can last a long time will save you money going forward. The last thing you want is to invest in an easel every year or so.
Easels are available in a wide range of materials including plastic, wood, and even bamboo. You will find most easels available today are made from wood due to their lightweight and durable nature.
However, plastic easels are far more lightweight and even stronger when compared with wooden easels. These are more costly along with bamboo constructions but both offer superb durability.
Versatility
You should ensure your easel is versatile enough for a range of experiences for your child. The base should be stable and flat so it is safe and comfortable to use.
The easel should also have a slip-resistant food cover. This will keep your child safe by preventing the easel from spilling over when in use.
Easels should be the correct size for your child too in order for them to get the best use out of it.
Adjustable height
It is critically important that you consider the height of an easel for your child and whether it is adjustable.
This feature will become more important as your child grows faster and taller so you can adjust the position of the boards to suit their growing height.
It is recommended you look for an easel with a wide range of height adjustability functions so your kid can use it for years to come. You should also ensure the adjustments are easy to do with little effort.
Storage
An easel that allows you to store various art supplies such as markers, chalk, pens, and erasers is very helpful. This helps keep the surrounding space cleaner and tidier.
Easels should come with an art supply store so your child can create without any interruption and learn consistently. These storage parts vary with some easels including art trays and cup holders.
Dual surface
To get the most out of an easel, you should be looking for one that includes two surfaces with an erasable whiteboard (dry-erase surface) and a chalkboard.
These offer enhanced versatility so your child can learn from the easel, write on it, and create art. In addition, dual-sided easels allow two children to use them at the same time so if you have more than one child, consider purchasing a dual-sided easel so they can share.
How easy it is to clean
You need to make sure your easel comes with dry-erasable boards. These allow you to clean the board easily without any fuss afterward.
These boards should be used with dry erasable markers so it is easy to clean off any drawings or writing after use. It is vital non-reusable dry markers are never used on these boards as they will not come off.
Paint and chalks can also affect an easel.
Plastic easels are typically very easy to clean while some wood and bamboo easels are coated on their exterior so you can easily scrub off any marks with ease.
Folding
Easels usually take up quite a bit of space. If you don’t want it out all of the time, you may want to fold it up and store it away. If so, you will need a foldable easel.
These typically fold flat for you to place in storage easily such as under the bed. These are also much easier to transport if you decide to go away and your kid wants to take the easel too.
Magnetic
Many easels include a magnetic surface to increase learning and fun. These are great for holding magnetic letters and numbers to help kids learn to spell and do math.
These also allow you to stick other books and materials to the easel for extended possibilities.
Paper roll holder
Paper roll holders allow you to stick and hold the paper to the easel for an improved drawing and writing experience. Easels with this design let you attach a whole paper roll to the top of it for convenience.
Make sure the easel you are looking for includes a clip or roll for holding this paper roll.
Overall safety
The last thing you want is your child getting injured from an easel. As many are made from wood, they can be harmful. Make sure your easel has a proper safety coating and smooth finish to prevent splinters and cuts.
It should also include child-friendly screws, a non-slip cover, and an anti-chip design to prevent any injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits for children using an easel?
Easels are excellent for stopping kids from drawing on walls or on furniture. Many have this bad habit and an easel will focus their creative energy onto one spot instead of all over the house.
It also keeps them physically active which is essential for early ages to build muscle and help strengthen their immune system.
Lastly, easels enhance children’s skills such as motor skills, balancing, and coordination which are vital going forward.
At what age can children start using easels?
This depends on the type of easel you are buying as many are made for different age ranges. Most easels are made for kids from two years old to nine years old.
It is advised you check the age specification before choosing an easel to make sure it is suitable for your child.
Last update on 2025-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API