Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel - Dry-Erase Board, Chalkboard, Paper Roller - FSC Certified

There is not a day that gos by that my niece Aniya doesn't use this easel. Whether its drawing on the whiteboard with markers, practicing her alphabet and numbers on her chalk board, drawing pictures of the family or creating the next Picasso, Aniya uses her easel to the fullest.I have to say that this is one of the absolute best things you could get for a child. They are able to express themselves artistically in a number of different ways, plus as a bonus you can also use the easel for education purposes. This makes it even easier to teach, as the child has already associated the easel with fun and games. I purchased this easel for my niece last Christmas and she is still using it! How many toys do you buy your child, only to have them stop playing with it? I guarantee that won't happen with this purchase and that you will get your moneys worth; I know I did.Aniya's mom was able to put together the easel with no problem what so ever, this says a lot as the women in my family eventually come to me so I can put together the items they purchased. The brushes the easel comes with are easy for a child to grip and the paint is of high quality. Although the selection of paint is limited you can teach your child how to mix colors to produce another. There are also separate paint sets that can be purchased as well.A mess is something to expect with an easel. As you teach your child how to paint properly and mess free you will have less and less to clean up. Make sure you purchase an apron and a floor mat for your child, as they will certainly make some sort of mess on themselves and on the floor.I only wish I had gotten one of these when I was a kid, I would have had so much fun with my mom.Here is a recap of what the easel comes with* Dry erase board- For dry erase markers* Fold nice and neat to store in the corner or under a bed, easy-clean storage-It gets used so much that it never gets folded unless we are cleaning up, but it is easy to do so anyway.* Comes with the accessories needed to help turn your child into the next Van Gogh* Includes chalkboard, a locking paper roll holder, a child-safe paper cutter, 4 clips and a plastic tray-This should last for about a month or two, depending on use. Remember to purchase refills ahead of time so you won't disrupt your child's fun.* Amazon Frustration-Free packaging- so simple that anyone can unpack it.* Exceptional quality and value-So true, this easel has the ability to withstand a beating. Even with daily use its still in mint-condition.* Features double sided chalk and dry erase-boards- Great for versatility, kids get bored sometimes when doing the same thing over and over. This adds versatility to their routine and allows them access to different mediums of workspace.* Height adjustable- Translation: Can be used by any child, making the easel itself easy to use for any age or size.* Includes a locking paper roll holder, a child-safe paper cutter, four clips and a plastic tray. Easy-clean storage- I have yet to see the rolls of paper fall. The trays themselves are indeed easy to clean.

I got this for my almost 3yr old grandbaby, she's of average height and when we assembled it we put it on the lowest level. It was perfect height for her little reach and she absolutely loves it. She draws, scribbles and we practice ABC and 123..it's a perfect toy for learning and fun. Best of all, it will grow with her for YEARS! This isn't one of thos here today, gone tomorrow toys. This WILL last. It is super sturdy, very easy to store in a corner. Comes just a pictured with all the accessories. Assembly was required. It wasn't difficult for my husband to put together. Overall, I would definitely recommend this for your little , and big ones.

We got this as a birthday present for our two year old daugther. I was concerned about earlier reviews with the chalkboard, but found it was not at all an issue. Yeaaa! I, and my non-mechanically inclined self, and my 2 year old put it together in less than an hour, since my husband declined to participate in this fun-filled activity. I'm sure it can be done faster but when you have a 2 year old looking for the pieces you need it takes some extra time (especially when they end up underneath the bed). I found the directions and diagrams to be quite clear. They have helpful notes about how the numbers need to be facing each other and how the head of the screw should not be above the wood, etc. All useful bits of info that insure proper construction.We haven't used the dry earase yet, as I'm not sure there are many washable dry erase markers on the market. At 32" tall my daugher likes to climb onto the paint tray to get a little higher, but we gave her a stepping stool and that helps her to reach the highest points on the easel. (To it's credit the easle handled the extra weight she was placing on the tray.)It does look like putting it on it's highest setting gets tricky because there's not much space at the top between the front legs and the back, so I think it takes more planning to put the screws in on that top setting.It sounds like it used to come with some rolls of paper . . .if it did, it no longer does. I would think it should include at least one roll. Other than that no real complaints. The no fuss packaging was nice. I spent no time cursing over hard to open plastic or excessive, wasteful materials as it had none of that. Oh the two boards (chalk and dry erase) did appear to be slightly warped/bent when I opened them up, but it doesn't seem obvious now when fully constructed, so no big deal in the end. We haven't yet tried the paper roll holder as we haven't ordered any paper, so I can't comment on that either. We did get the extra (i.e., ordered seperately) paint cups and they of course fit nicely into the paint tray and are a smart addition.Glad we finally ordered this. It does seem that the price on this easel fluctuates by as much as fifteen dollars or so although I've never seen it at it's full asking price. Would definitely recommend this (and already have to friends)and I think (hope!) it will be one of those things that grows with our child for years to come.