Writing tablets are my new favorite kid toy–here are five models I’d recommend
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Portable, easy and creative, these toys have been huge hits lately in my house.
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You know that old saying about how you can have something good, fast, or cheap, but never all three at once? That’s how I feel about kids’ toys. There are some that are engaging, some that are portable, and some that don’t make a huge mess, but there are very, very few toys that are all of the above.
Lately, however, my three- and five-year-olds have been on a writing tablet kick, and this is the blessed toy that is, yes, all three. These LCD writing tablets are like souped-up Magna-Doodles— a blank, black writing surface lets kids draw by revealing rainbow-like colors when you scribble on them with an attached pencil. Then, press the erase button and your kid can make an entirely new creation, over and over again. Think of them as a modern children’s drawing pad that never runs out of paper.
How my kids use their LCD writing tablets
These tablets might not seem like much, but they’re truly amazing. For one thing, they allow for endless creativity. My three year old has taken to asking me to “draw a house” and then she will fill the house with whatever drawings her imagination comes up with: a bed, a refrigerator, a person sleeping on a bed, an apple tree. My five-year-old uses it as a clip board to pretend to be her teacher. When they use them together, they affectionately call them “work things” (and pretend they’re computers, I guess?).
I also love them because we can bring them anywhere— restaurants, doctor’s appointments, in the car—it’s a simple, screen-free thing I can say “yes” to that will actually hold their attention while we are out. And it’s easy: there aren’t a million parts to keep track of, it can’t spill or break, no one is maybe going to accidentally swallow part of it, and they’re affordable enough that it’s doable to have two of them and avoid fights.
What age is a writing tablet suitable for?
I started handing mine to my daughter at age 3, and she took to it immediately—pressing down with the stylus, scribbling away, hitting the erase button, repeat. Most LCD writing tablets are marketed for ages 3 and up, and that tracks with my experience: toddlers who can grip a crayon can handle one of these. The simple one-button erase means even the youngest kids get the hang of it fast.
But don’t assume they’re only a toddler toy. My five-year-old uses hers to practice writing letters and play “school,” and models like the Boogie Board VersaBoard are designed with older kids and tweens in mind—great for jotting to-do lists, doodling during homework breaks, or leaving notes on the fridge. Some families even keep one at the kitchen counter as a running grocery list. They’re screen-free and endlessly reusable, which makes them a solid pick from the preschool years all the way into the tween and teen years.
Are LCD writing tablets good for kids?
Short answer: yes. An LCD drawing tablet gives kids a creative outlet that’s genuinely screen-free (the LCD display doesn’t emit light or radiation—it’s more like an Etch-a-Sketch than an iPad). For toddlers, they’re a portable, mess-free way to keep little hands busy. For elementary-age kids, they’re great for practicing handwriting, playing drawing games, or just having something to do during a long car ride without resorting to a device. They’re also super affordable compared to most electronic toys, and since there’s no WiFi, no apps, and no ads, there’s nothing to monitor or worry about. The battery lasts months (some brands claim up to a year of normal use), and the environmental upside—no paper, no markers drying out—is a nice bonus.
If you’d like to add one of these writing tablets to your diaper bag arsenal (and I highly recommend keeping one around for sudden bouts of boredom!) here are my reviewed picks. I’ve included pros and cons for each, pulling from my own experience and Amazon reviews, so you can find the right LCD writing tablet for your family.
My top LCD writing tablet picks
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