Home >> Toys >> Childrens Toys

Differences Between the Crayola Easel & Imaginarium Easel

According to Pablo Picasso, "every child is an artist." There aren't many parents who would disagree, and toys that encourage artistic expression and free play abound. Crayola (Crayola.com) and Imaginarium (toysrus.com) are both widely recognized companies that provide a variety of tools for the budding artist. As parents attempt to match their child's creative inclinations to the features of their first art easel, these two companies are often in the final running.

Wooden Versus Plastic
- Wooden easels tend to be taller and heavier than plastic.
  
  To narrow down the search for the perfect canvas, consider the material forming the easel. Crayola and Imaginarium easels come with either a wooden or plastic base. The plastic easels are less expensive, ranging from $30 to $4o, while the wooden easels are cost closer to $60, as of 2011. The wooden version of each tends to be taller, larger and heavier, weighing close to 20 lbs., compared to under 10 lbs. for the plastic versions.
Accessories
- Both plastic easels contain magnetic letters and numbers.
  
  Crayola and Imaginarium easels both include an eraser and 77 magnetic letters and numbers with their plastic double-sided magnetic easels. In addition, Imaginarium includes two paint pots. For storage Crayola utilizes four detachable bins, while Imaginarium utilizes an art tray. The wooden easels contain no art supplies but do include bins for storage.
Surfaces
- Both companies feature clips for securing artwork.
  
  Both companies' easels feature a chalkboard on one side and magnetic dry-erase board on the other. The Crayola brand is marketed as a 3-in-1 play area: chalkboard, dry erase and magnetic. The Imaginarium easel features similar surfaces but is marketed as a 4-in-1 play area, adding painting as an additional feature. The clip that tops the magnetic surface making painting possible is also included with the Crayola easels.
Flexibility
- The Crayola plastic easel and both companies' wooden easel feature sloped sides that allow two children to play simultaneously. The Imaginarium plastic double easel is flat, making only one surface comfortably usable at any given time. Children attempting to use opposite sides may interfere with one another. Both plastic easels and Imaginarium's wooden version can be made flat for storage with a foldable design.
Height
- Consider the height and number of artists when purchasing an easel.
  
  The double-sided plastic easels are marketed for ages 3 and up. Consider desired height as well when purchasing your easel. The Imaginarium plastic easel measures 22 inches tall, while the wooden version is 47 inches tall. The Crayola plastic easel is taller than the Imaginarium at 43 inches, with a wooden version measuring 50 inches in height. For use by multiple children of varying heights, you may need to purchase a stool to accommodate shorter artists.

Childrens Toys