When I saw them I thought I had found a piece of heaven! Given that my son grabs most crayons in a weird way, he usually can't color too easily, so when I saw Taddodles I though bingo he will start to grasp the idea of holding crayons in the right way, finally!! However, once I opened them, the crayons fell right out of the holder...like a piece of spagetti out of his hand!! So he started getting frustrated first until he figured out that he could just pull them out and throw them on the floor or throw them at me! Plus he was able to chew a piece out of all three of them, just like any other regular crayon (besides the very chunky ones!) and that is to me a very obvious chocking hazard, when I give my son regular crayons I know that I have to be extra alert because he is too young to use them but Taddodles ARE designed for kids his age. I ended up using some a hot glue gun to stick them in the holders, and now I have to be very careful about not letting them break or used up too much because otherwise I can't take them out! Too much work for plain ol' crayons!!

xibalba

Tucson, AZ

When I first opened my son's very first package of Crayola Beginnings TaDoodles First Marks, I noticed that the green one had bled all over the cute little holder. So, to my frustration, I had to wash it all off before my son could enjoy it. Also, another major draw back is how much the color bleeds. Without putting much pressure on the little marker AT ALL, it leaves a very very dark mark. It makes for a very messy art session with a toddler. So if own any that you haven't used or are looking to purchase, I'd strip your child down and set them in their highchair to use these. My son was actually covered in near head-to-toe marker after using these. These markers also hold the same frustration for my son that the TaDoodles crayons hold. They're just as awkward, if not more awkward for my little artist to hold. He just cannot figure out how to hold them comfortably to draw or color. This results in him coloring more on himself than on the actual paper.

icantnameyou

Ogden, IA

Our daughter received the** Crayola Tadoodles First Marks Beginnings Utility Vehicle** for Christmas last year (2009) as a gift from her grandmother. I am not impressed with them at all. We tried using them several times and now they just sit on top of the refrigerator and are not used. The only reason I have not thrown them out is that they were a gift and it makes me feel bad to toss them. First of all: They have to be held vertically. They will not work if you tilt them at all, and my daughter seemed to have trouble keeping them completely up and down while colouring with them. It resulted in frustration for us both. Second: They STAIN like all get out! They are supposed to be washable, but they stained my daughters hands and clothing, even when washed right away. Yes, the little animal shaped markers are very cute. But that is about as far as it goes with this product! I definitely would not buy or recommend any Tadoodles product. We'll stick to crayons, watercolours and coloured pencils.

TariM

Wrightstown, NJ

Although this product is great for little hands it should not be used by toddlers. The markers get everywhere and I mean everywhere. The little bus caddy is a fun toy to play with by itself. Warning parents - buy the crayons not the markers.

makenna

Leesburg, VA

My son is 22 months old.  We tried these once before when he was 16 months and I assumed he was too young.  He has excellent motor skills so I thought he'd be ready now. These are awkward to hold and even when he gets a grip he has to hold them completely stright up and down to have it make a mark.  Instead of having fun, he wound up being completely frustrated.  As for not making a mess, we both have first marks all over our hands and fingers.

ChristenPyle

Deptford, NJ

My daughter was about eighteen months old when she received a set of these. She got the winter looking set that had (I think) a bear and a penguin. I had high hopes for these as I thought a young child would enjoy them. First of all she preferred to play with them as toys rather than draw with them. Playing is not bad of course, but she has toys for that purpose. The toy nature of these takes away from the opportunity and desire to draw and create rather than adding to that desire. The biggest con though is that these make a mess. The ink flows much to freely and instead of being able to color with them, the ink just splattered and ran and dripped on the paper. It was very wet, more like water color paint that marker. Needless to say this ink would get on her, and I monitered her and sat with her while she played with them. I wouldn't recommend these at all. They are appealing on the shelf, but just stick with the classic washable markers!

clippincat

Big Sandy, TX

My son loves it, but I don't.  I got the paint brush set for my son a couple months ago.  I think we've used it twice since I bought it.  This paint set is extremely messy.  The paint gets everywhere.  His mouth becomes blue or green or red and everything else gets painted as well.  It would be great if you took your kid outside on a sheet with just a diaper on, but it's not that great for use at the kitchen table.  You pretty much have to treat this product like a first birthday cake.  This is unfortunate, because it's a great concept and the little character's are super cute.  If they could make the paint come out slower I would really love to have my son play with this at least once a week.  I hope they improve the product.  I'd take it back, but it's not worth the hassle.  I'm quite disappointed in the purchase.  I hope that someone reads this so that they don't waste there money.  I do not recommend this product until they "update" it with a slower paint flow.

FulfillinHim

Port Saint Lucie, FL

We received the Crayola Beginnings First Marks Tadoodler BUV as a gift.  I had high hopes for these baby-sized markers as we love doing any kind of art projects at our house.  Each Tadoodler is filled with ink which flows out of the brush when pressure is applied to it.  The ink comes out waaaay too fast and becomes a mess instantly!  I tried these both with my little boy and girl and it was a disaster every time.  The manufacturer needs to figure out a way so the ink doesn't flow out so quickly...little ones are still learning motor skills and this is not a good way to do it, in my opinion!  Also, I would just assume that we never got the little 'cart' to store our Tadoodles in as it gives no added benefit.  Please, if you are looking for a way for your little one to express themselves on paper, consider the Crayola triangular crayons first!  You will save yourself money and from a messy project!

jborn610

Appleton, WI