To not want 2YO having felt tip pens

They’re washable! But if you’re really worried use them outdoors, pad of paper and pens in the garden or park. The only way they learn to not draw on walls is to first learn where they are supposed to draw. Gotta start somewhere.

I have a child who draws on walls.

Washable felt tip pens are much easier to get off than pencil or crayon.

Crayon is the worst 😆.

This is perfect!

All my DDs would prefer a cardboard box over toys most of the time, and turning one into their own colouring project would keep them occupied for hours or days. Even now we’ve only just disposed of a giant box my DD turned into a little private den, cushions blankets, pictures on the walls she drew and would take an old portable dvd player in it and watch old dvds. It’s now been replaced by a castle from hobbycraft she’s decorated.

Quite! Imagine being outwitted by a 2 year old!

Your child is not Houdini. Just hide them better.

Clearly it's not the only chance but they love a felt tip at that age. She even said the MIL had bought washable. What is the big deal? I just don't get it.

Is this advice for colouring, or just for everyday to prevent general toddler destruction?

Asking for a friend

You can also put child in a cardboard box and only allow them inside the box

Do not take it up with MIL
You get gifts then you as parent decide what child is allowed

Don't make a drama just save for when child is older and obedient or only have them out at set times and far away from the sofa (speaking from experience here)

So you'd rather have an immaculate home than a child who has mastered a pincer grip ready to write when they get to school? I've seen it all now.
Exactly. Felt tips and the chance to draw on ops sofa aged 2 is literally the only way to master pincer grip and without that opportunity, ops toddler may as well kiss goodbye to their oxbridge dreams right now.

So you'd rather have an immaculate home than a child who has mastered a pincer grip ready to write when they get to school? I've seen it all now.

Washable felt tips are actually much easier to get off things than biro/crayon/ pencil. I’d let him have the felt tips supervised, might make him less likely to try get to your normal pens

There’s a decent range of ‘my first markers’ - crayola do some, and the packaging says 12 months plus. I’ve bought them for quite a few 1yo birthdays as well as my own kids and always been well received

The chunky felt tips are much easier to use than crayons. Just have them out under supervision.

They can stay at her house and be used there

I think fine motor control comes before blending.

@BarnacleBeasley neither of mine got on at all well with crayons, they somehow found them hard to use. But they did like the chunky Crayola markers from a young age

I'm actually amazed that the majority view on this thread is that 2 year olds should (not just can) have felt tips! Not that I would mind if someone gave my child washable pens, and maybe my family's 2yos have all just been shit at drawing, but basically all the 2yos I know would just be stabbing the pen on the paper going 'DOT DOT DOT' or scribbling really hard, and the pens would be bashed in and dried up in no time. It just feels like there are lots of other drawing implements better suited to that age group (esp crayons and paint) and I'd assumed that's why nursery tended to use those ones for the younger age groups. MIL giving some wouldn't particularly bother me apart from the waste if they were quickly destroyed.

I have a 2.5yo who uses these pens. How do you think they learn? What age is perfect for you?
My LO did write on the couch in the beginning but it was a good lesson to teach her that it's for paper. We went through a few packs of not putting the caps on, but now she does. It's cheap so you can go through many and teach them. Now she will go grab a piece of paper or coloring books and her pencil case when she wants to use them. She knows it goes back in the case too. Supervise them, teach them and they will learn.

Supervise. Not q big deal.

Mt 2 year old girl always had access to scissors and felt tips even at 2. Sometimes unsupervised (oops). For some reason she never used them anywhere she wasn't supposed to. Now at 4.5 he uses biro to write all over herself. And every time she has scissors unsupervised, she starts cutting her hair (she wants her hair to look like her 6 year old brother's). So you never know!

But serious, why not keep some of those f* to give when something really serious is worth giving f about. For now, supervise the use. Or hide them if you want. And keep nurturing the relationship with your lovely mil. So many people are not that lucky

Children need a variety of mark making implements then they can experiment and see what effect they have for themselves. You don't teach techniques at that age.

It really isn't impossible to supervise and keep them safe (I'm a former childminder) but it's hardly child neglect if you'd rather not. Summer is coming. Keep hold of them for playing with in the garden. I absolutely wouldn't have made an issue about it with the mil either - just say thank you and do what you want with them.

Got to start somewhere! They aren't encouraged at school either. No art teacher, but definitely a parent.

I’m surprised by the responses, I’d have these as a lovely ‘at granny’s house’ toy since she’s fine with them

Not at all but if you expect a showhome 24/7 then don't have children.