To not want 2YO having felt tip pens

He’s 2 years old.

25 years an art teacher her. He doesn’t need to learn how to blend colours at 2

Felt tips are nasty and don't teach them how to blend shades and use different pressures. Also, If they are allowed to use pens or crayons anywhere except the table/easel you are in trouble as they see any blank surface as a canvas. I'm with the OP, pencil crayons are much better.

It’s up to you! I wouldn’t allow it either as my son is fast and unpredictable, so even if I used them with him while supervised he could jump up and use it on the wall/on the dining table before I could stop him. He finds art boring so all the more likely to do something like that too! To me it’s all annoyance with no benefit whatsoever (he can use crayons instead).

but don’t make any declarations to MIL as it’s not a totally inappropriate present. Just put them away and get them out again when she’s a bit older and can follow instructions a bit more reliably.

Another no to felt tip pens , no matter which ones we’ve had they just make a mess and stain things ,
my 4 and 7 year olds rarely have felt tips even now , pencils and crayons work just fine

I have a 5 and almost 3 year old. They both only use felt tips at the table in the kitchen. They don’t have free access to them like they do with the colour pencils.

We always had craft time sitting up at the table.
glue, scissors, pens, paint, play dough were all only played with at the table.
anything that was remotely messy play (or had the potential) was only used at the table or outside in the summer.

We keep both Play-Doh and felt tips on top of a tall cabinet. I even need to stand on a chair to reach so I'd love to see a two year old get them in the time it takes me to use the loo!

It’s because of the lids being a potential choking hazard so you shouldn’t leave them unsupervised anyway. I have a small house too, never got pen on my sofa 🤷‍♀️ don’t you have a kitchen table or dining table? Or some floor space away from the sofa?

Wishy washy excuses - and sorry but you are being uptight. Giving a toddler crayons, paints pencils and pens for a few minutes drawing is good for them. They can explore the differences, no they won’t all spend ages on it but they might grow to like it and spend longer each time.

Felt pens are a normal (I'd say necessary) resource for a 2 year old. Yes, it might be annoying/time consuming that you have to interact with them during use.
Children don't suddenly become able to sit and concentrate on an activity without the opportunity to practise.

Just teach her to use them sensibly. We introduced washable felt tips at about 2 and made sure our DD knew she could only use them at the table, on paper, and she has to put the lids on when she's finished with a colour. Works for us and we've never had a felt tip accident.

It’s perfectly normal concentration wise to not sit long at that age.
They are supposed to aim to concentrate on something for double their age at that age.
So a 2 year old, you should be expecting about 4 mins of doing one activity. So craft at this age is sitting at table with pens and paper with them for 5 mins max. Then bored. Then swap pens for maybe playdough, 5 mins, bored. Then swap for stickers 5 mins max, bored. Then craft time finished.

Gradually with Practice they might sit longer for some activities. Remember in Uk by 4, so in 2 years time they will be at school. And expected to be able to sit and use a pencil, pens, scissors.

I still don’t let my 4 year old run about with craft stuff. It’s all kept in kitchen drawers so he does it at the table, rather than biro and kinetic sand all over the sofa.

I can't believe thta your toddler is really able to outwith you with the pens. I feel like you're trying to prove a point that your terrible MIL shouldn't have bought washable pens. Also, 2 minutes colouring is fine, the more they do the longer they'll do.

I was watching tv this morning and they were talking about how many children start school and don’t even know how to turn a page in a book or can’t hold a pen. It’s so sad. I grew up in a “pristine” house, I hated it, I couldn’t care less about a bit of pen or paint on the walls as long as my house is clean. My youngest is 8 this year, we’ve deliberately left decorating parts of the house so our DCs can paint, colour, craft when ever wanted to. They are old enough now to still enjoy themselves and not make too much of a mess and clean up after themselves.

I allowed all my dc to use felt tips from a very early age, it helped with motor control and one of my dc is now a very artistic teen Just supervise your dc as you usually would and there won't be any mishaps.

That’s interesting to read! That had never occurred to me but makes so much sense.
Suddenly feeling awful for mine being in a high chair when I used to let them use them 🙈

I wouldn't have made a big deal and voiced my concern over a pack of felt tips...

I would have put them in a high up cupboard for a later date.

‘A child of that age can’t even hold a pen to make marks properly yet’

Really? I think most, even just turned, two year olds can make marks with a felt tip with no problems. The two year old I work with can draw all sorts of -vaguely recognisable- things as she’s had art supplies in her hands since she learned to hold a spoon. It’s just one of those things you have to practice with them I think.

You don't want to teach your kid not to scribble on the furniture? Or you don't want to supervise them? And what's the difference between felt tips and paint sticks?

but What’s the difference between paint sticks and felt pens? You either trust them to play with these sort of things or you don’t. And you just use them supervised, you want to leave the child alone you take the messy stuff away. It’s not that complicated… alternatively just thank your Mil and leave them at hers, ask her for some colouring books to go with them, she can sit and colour with your dc when you go round there? Does your dc not mark make and use pens at nursery?

If necessary, keep them completely out of sight - then they won't climb up to them and get them if they don't know where they are kept.

It sounds like your LO isn't that interested in drawing and colouring which is also fine - my 6yo wasn't really at that age (my 3yo loves it). It's still a bit OTT IMO to tell MIL you're not pleased with the gift! They will be fine hidden in a high cupboard most of the time for a year or two.

A good tip BTW is to get the biggest paper you can find - that tends to work well and be fascinating for more active children. If you have outdoor space, take the big paper and pens outside when it gets warmer. Less risk of mess and they can draw with the paper on the floor or taped up on a wall.

@namechangetheworld I don’t want to, that ok with you?

They have multiple varieties of crayons, they have paint sticks, they have glitter paint things….i sit and do these crafts with them….they do not need felt pens if I don’t want them to have them, it is not the end of the world. I really don’t understand the big deal about them not having felt pens 🙄

My dd is 2 and can draw a person, try drawing a cat, and write her name, so they most define Lu can hold a pen properly. She’s been allowed to use pens, felts, various things since a young age though… I just supervise her 🤷

How sad. All those things are crucial for motor skills which equal good pencil control and ultimately confident writers and drawers. Play dough and slime are amazing for finger motor control and muscle tone.