Toddler Coloring on Walls. Help!

my daughter does this also. We just got washable crayons and if she did draw I would say "oh thats pretty but we don't draw in the wall, we draw on paper...well that didn't work at all so we got her an easle and it was the best thing we ever did concerning this problem. She LOVES her easle and doen't draw on the wall anymore.

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My little boys did the same thing. I had color time where I sat down with them. They still colored on the wall but I could refer back to our "color time" and that crayons belong on paper. Make sure that whatever you buy it is washable. I have washable crayons, markers, paints, etc... My boys painted their feet and made foot prints on the floor in their playroom. Thank goodness it was washable paint. I dont get so upset then. Good luck and have fun!!!

Hi M.,
My son luckily never went through this - BUT I just recently learned something about it that I never knew before. I think I heard it in Parent's magazine first but I read it again in a book about how preschoolers learn to write. For some reason it is much easier and more comfortable for little ones to right in a vertical position and actually that book I had said that most writing in the early years should be vertical. I have read of people doing a section of a wall with chalkboard paint or simply pinning up a large piece of paper on the wall for them to color on. Easels are great too but expensive if you don't already have one. I have not seen the method of providing them wall space to color on actually work as I have not known anyone who has tried it but it makes sense and may be worth a try.

My son used to do the same thing and he outgrew it in about 6-7 months. Now coloring is a supervised event. I found that Mr. Clean Clean Erasers work the best for removing crayons off the wall.

I taped pieces of construction paper on our hardwood floors and let my daughter get down and draw on the floor. As the paper filled up with her creations, we taped more paper on the floor. By the end of the week we probably had almost 30 pieces of paper taped on the floor. This gave her lots of room to color and create and at the end of the week I tore up the paper and we started fresh with new paper.

color wonder is amazing but other than that make sure she knows that thier is always a constcouge to coloring on the walls

Hey M.!
Well, my son doesn't color on walls, but I used to. I was notorious for it!! Used to drive my mother crazy. One day she decided that I could have one wall in my own room to color on. I was only 5, but it was the coolest thing ever!! I still remember it. Maybe you could give that a shot. I turned out all right and now I get paid to color on other people's walls. I paint murals in kid's rooms, so I guess it paid off. If you'd rather her not do it though. Try those new crayola paints. They only color in crayola special paper and it's huge paper too.
I really have to suggest the one wall thing in her room though. It will be her own artwork and let her be creative all at once. After it gets crazy, you two can wash it off and she can start all over again!!
Hope this helps!!
Good luck with your little artist!

Hi M.,

I went through the same with my little girl. She outgrew it in about 6 mos. Until then, I'd say to tell your in-laws that coloring is a supervised activity.

J.

I laughed a little bit when I read this because it is the primary cause of conflict in my life right now! My youngest son is 2, and he has an amazing knack for finding Sharpie markers. I don't know how he does it! We've had to paint our walls about 3 times already--it's almost funny but drives me crazy! We recently brought home a GIANT chalk board which we keep leaning against the wall in our living area. Now he can color all he wants, and if he does decide to draw elsewhere, the chalk easily wipes off. Oh, and we're working harder at keeping our markers out of reach!

Hi M.,
I can completely understand your frustration with this. My 17 month old daughter does the same thing.. so what I do now is sit with her with the crayons and a coloring book or drawing paper and show her this is how you use crayons. She will do ok for a bit and once she starts using the crayons for something other than drawing on the paper I've given her then I take them from her and put them away. I think the more and more I keep doing that the more she will finally understand. Hopefully things will get better soon. Maybe others will have some great suggestions for us too ! : ) Take care!

All 3 of my children have gone through this stage. it's a pain but they will out grow it. As for clean up I suggest either Goo Gone (the crayon just wipes right off) or Magic erasers. Good luck!