At our dr appt yesterday the "student" nurse pract. that seen Brandon asked if he was coloring yet. I said coloring? Hes 13m old I didnt know he was supposed to be coloring. I said I have tried to get him to scribbel and so on but all he wants to do is eat the crayons. She suggested an Aquadoodle to teach him fine motor skills. Did anyones dc have one at 13m/14m...... What are you opinions on this item for a child this age?
At our dr appt yesterday the "student" nurse pract. that seen Brandon asked if he was coloring yet. I said coloring? Hes 13m old I didnt know he was supposed to be coloring. I said I have tried to get him to scribbel and so on but all he wants to do is eat the crayons. She suggested an Aquadoodle to teach him fine motor skills. Did anyones dc have one at 13m/14m...... What are you opinions on this item for a child this age?
I think it would be a good toy. The pens are filled with water so they can't color on the walls and if they eat it, oh well it's just water. I think I would get a small one to begin with because it may not hold his attention very long, but it's a good introduction to coloring.
Our PT and OT suggested this for the boys at about 9 months. We had the same problem with eating crayons (sometimes we still do ). They suggested using food to "color" in. Examples could be pudding, yogurt etc. with small pretzel sticks. That way you don't have to worry about it going in the mouth so much. I will warn you that it is a bit messy and reguires a lot of patience. We didn't have aquadoodle stuff until this Christmas. It's o.k. but I like the creativity of colors better personally.
I've been thinking about getting some too. But I wouldn't worry that he HAS to have one. They get plenty of fine-motor practice on other things (playing with other toys, feeding themselves, etc.) too. I know at some point they need to work specifically on holding a crayon/pen/pencil, but surely 13 months is too early to worry about that.
We haven't used the Aquadoodles, but we have a couple of etch-a-sketch type things. We got them because our kids also liked to eat crayons.
I got the same info when my boys had their 1-year NICU follow-up appointment. "You mean they're not coloring yet?" Of course, every type of writing instrument they gave my children went directly in their mouths. I think it's silly to expect a child that young to control a crayon or pen of any kind. My boys are now 4.5 and are coloring as I type this, so obviously it wasn't too big of a detriment to their fine motor skills not to give them crayons that young. To answer your question, they LOVE the Aquadoodle. I guarantee, though, those would have gone right into their mouths, too.
We just got an aquadoodle for Christmas this year, and Jack loves it. Ally's not too thrilled, but it's worth having it just for Jack. At that young of an age though, I think the travel magna doodles are better. The pens are easier to control, they're attached to the doodle so they can't get lost (always a plus ) and you can take them everywhere. My kids have loved their magnadoodles since we first got them. I think we have 4 little ones now, and they still love to take them in the car.
We introduced Aquadoodles and magnadoodles around 15 months. Mine are just now (2 years) getting a little better at not eating the crayons!
My guys spent most of the time sucking the water out of the water pens or whipping them really fast so they leave a spray of water across the sheet (as well as everywhere else). They would only draw with the pens a little bit. I think it's asking a lot for 13 month olds to use a pen. I don't think that Aquadoodle offers much in therapeutic play but it does entertain them. Around 18 months I started my guys with crayons and paper outside so they couldn't ruin the walls or the furniture.
quote: they LOVE the Aquadoodle. I guarantee, though, those would have gone right into their mouths, too. Same here
I bought the smaller size boards when my guys were about 15 months. I'm not sure of the brand (I bought them at Walmart), but there is no water in them. The pens are attached to the boards, and still often end up in their mouths at 22 months.
Mine got their's around 15 months and still love it, it's one of their favorite toys and believe me, they have a bunch of stuff. They do suck the water out of the tips which is pretty gross, but other than that they love drawing on it. They are pretty good with crayons now, too, and even with Crayola Color Wondor markers. They don't try to eat any of them anymore. They will be 3 in April, btw.
quote: My guys spent most of the time sucking the water out of the water pens Mine too... they spend more time sucking the water out than actually putting the pens on the mat I have a challenge with crayons too... they just want to break them and now that they're bigger, they're into breaking the extra-thick crayons we got them too. They are more apt to colour with crayons, though, then the AquaDoodle, so we try to do this more often
We do not have one yet, as miraculously my children do NOT eat their crayons. There are so many things that you can do to develop fine motor skills though. Crayons are just one piece of the puzzle. Stacking cups, stacking rings, shape sorters (where they put the circle through the circle hole, the square through the square hole), pop-up toys, etc. all require fine-motor muscles. If eating the crayons is an issue, try Finger Crayons. We love these, and they can hold their little fists around the ball part in order to color. The best part about these crayons is that they also stack. So in essence, you get a whole other toy out of them. Ben LOVES to stack them on top of each other, and this is perhaps the best fine-motor practice he can get!!!!
i take the aquadoodle out once a week, and each time, i show the girls what to do, i hand them the pen, and it goes right in their mouths....at that point i put it away and try again a week later.. however, i have a friend who has the magnadoodle, and alexa was able to use it a little when we were there and didn't even try to put it in her mouth...so that is what i plan on getting now....
We have one and our kids love it. They just got it for xmas, so they were 19 mos...but my friend has a 14 month old and has two of them and he loves it also. You don't have worry about them eating crayons or marking on your furniture because it is only water that you put in the pens. We got it for that reason. They started having an interest in drawing with crayons and pens a few months back, but would eat them or write on themselves...so Santa brought the aquadoodle.
What is the age for Aquadoodles? I was looking at them for Xmas, but I remember the age on the box not being for them. Anyway, I have temporarily shelved any coloring for now, it just makes me nuts. All they do is put the crayons in their mouths. Then I tried Color Wonder, and Ainsley bit the tip off of one, so I gave up for now. I'm sure they won't be behind in coloring.
The age on the box says 2 TRU says 3.. I think its too soon for them but that my opinion. His normal Dr. says they are doing excellent with hitting milestones and are actually advanced in some. They fine motor skills are right on in my opinion and maybe just a smidge ahead. So Im not taking anything the "student" said very much to heart. Dhe didnt seem like a mom to me and sure as heck was not a good nurse/dr....... Not professional at all really and not really having a clue about kids or how to handle them. Shes was probably just doing her rotations... Tahnks everyone for your advice!!!!
The age on the magnadoodles is fairly high as well. I know my children are plenty old enough now but I remember not purchasing them at one point because the suggested age was higher than I anticipated. I am glad I followed the recommended age because not too long after a TS member posted about an injury to her child from a magnadoodle (the child was under the recommended age). Anyway, alot of babble to say....please check manufacturer recommended ages, they provide them for a reason. ETA: I just looked for some and saw the age was 3 and up for the travel ones and 4 and up for the ones with the magnets.
