Crayola Color Wonder sounds perfect. “Mess Free Coloring”. The advertising says these special markers won’t “color on skin, furniture or fabric”. It’s a great idea, and the science behind it is very interesting. The problem is they won’t color on paper either.
So Crayola makes special coloring books to use with these “fool-proof” markers, and the exorbitant price might be worth it – if they worked.
Toddlers are very “light handed”. When they start making marks on paper, their stroke is whispy. Initially, you almost can’t see the marks. To make the Color Wonder work you have to press down – hard, and then you have to WAIT! Who ever heard of a toddler waiting? So it works in parents’ hands or for babysitting grandparents like me, but it’s genius is completely lost on two year olds, who would rather just put the covers on and off (with help).
These markers won’t really be fun for your child until she or he is old enough to use regular markers, and that’s such a shame! So if you are trying to encourage scribbling (the first emerging art talent) in your little one, I would recommend regular washable fat markers. And I’ve got to admit, after teaching little kids art for ten years, that NOTHING beats the Crayola ones.