One of my favorite toys for 2-4 year olds is a perfect summer travel item. Melissa and Doug’s Water Wow series is a ring-bound set of 4 pages with a refillable plastic pen with a brush tip. Fill the base with water, twist the top on, and scribble as the water reveals colors and hidden items on the pages.
The size of the pen is just about right to encourage a three or four-finger grasp. Etched lines in the top add traction if fingers get wet. It is the crafty toddler that can figure out how to open the pen, so spills are almost eliminated. Hint: don’t let them see you lock it into position. Divert and distract!
The pages are large enough to include some fun themes, in a range from construction to animals. There are also number and letter books. They dry quickly and are reusable for many, many hours of fun. Some children have scratched the pages in frustration, as the brushes take a minute or two to start releasing the water from the wick inside the top. My current suggestion: have your toddler shake it up and down for a while. They will be having too much fun to get bored or frustrated.
The result? Happy toddlers and clean scribbling that can be repeated all vacation long!
