Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want 2YO having felt tip pens

114 replies

Cheesybroccoli · 13/03/2025 15:42

MIL gave my 2 year old DC a pack of felt tips, DH and I voiced that we were not happy about this, but she dismissed it because they’re washable. AIBU to take them away, or am I being a Scrooge?

For the record I have an amazing relationship with MIL, we just have very different attitudes to our homes, felt tip on her floor/walls/sofa wouldn’t be a big deal, but to me it is.

OP posts:
feelingrobbed · 13/03/2025 15:51

My kid did this once. A tiny little line. I told her I’d throw them all in the bin if she did it again. Never happened again. Well hope not as she’s five now. Boundaries.

CurbsideProphet · 13/03/2025 15:47

No felt tips allowed here, our 2 year old has used a crayon to scribble on a door and there's no way I'm risking a felt tip! He didn't do it deliberately, he just had that 2 year old thought process of "oh that looks like a nice big door to scribble on".
Why would your MIL be so bothered about it? They can be played with at her house if that's what she wants!

KeyWorker · 13/03/2025 15:47

Surely you can just teach your child not to draw on the walls or furniture. Can you not keep them as a supervised activity for now, so they use them only when you sit down together to colour and put them away when DC is less supervised. You can get a wipe clean table covering for the table too that can also be used for Play-Doh/ glue/ paint etc.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/03/2025 15:46

Runningoutofthyme · 13/03/2025 15:44

Presumably as he’s 2 you’ll be supervising them when they are used and then putting them some where safe until you use them with him again… so there is minimal chance of him rampaging around the house on a graffiti spree

My dd went in a graffiti spree😞

l went to empty the dishwasher and she scribbled all over a wall. It came off though.

ItGhoul · 13/03/2025 15:46

Unless you're planning to hand them to your 2-year-old and then leave the room to let them get on with it, I don't see why this is a problem. Just make sure they're something they only draw/play with when you're with them. Give them a few massive sheets of paper, draw a few bits with them and then let them have a good scribble until they're bored. Then put the felt tips away until next time.

minnienono · 13/03/2025 15:46

They are fine as long as supervised. Surely at 2 you don’t allow any art supplies unsupervised anyway?

couchparsnip · 13/03/2025 15:45

If they are the washable ones I would have no issue with it. MIL sounds lovely and you're being a bit precious about your house. They wash off!

MammaTill2Pojkar · 13/03/2025 15:44

Suggest she gets her colour wonder pens and paper instead, the pens only work on the special paper.

Redpeach · 13/03/2025 15:44

Why not?

Caspianberg · 13/03/2025 15:44

It’s fine. But I wouldn’t let a 2 year old have free access to them, that’s different. But sat at table with adult and paper, fine. It’s good for practice mark making with different types of things

polinkhausive · 13/03/2025 15:44

Surely there's a middle ground here where you let your DD use them when supervised?

My kids have always had paints and felt tips and markers and things but kept out of reach except when we supervised them to use them

Runningoutofthyme · 13/03/2025 15:44

Presumably as he’s 2 you’ll be supervising them when they are used and then putting them some where safe until you use them with him again… so there is minimal chance of him rampaging around the house on a graffiti spree

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/03/2025 15:43

It comes off walls. My dd had loads of felt pens. They wash off.

Im with your mil.

Devilsmommy · 13/03/2025 15:43

I've got a 2 year old and no chance would I let him have felt tip pens. Yanbu