Doodle Pro Basic Color Refresh - Translucent Purple - J5605

This board is great for any aspiring author, artist, you name it! Like most of typical magnetic boards out there, this one will eventually start to accumulate dark spots around the board. I haven't seen one yet that doesn't do this, but it's taken awhile for it to happen here.

I don't like how long the string on the pen is, it needs to be a bit longer. It's attached in the back of the unit, in the upper right. To write in a normal position in all areas of the board, you need the string to come over the top of the board. However, based on where you grabbed it, sometimes the pen string will come across the side, and due to the curvature of the board, gets "stuck" there, so no matter how hard you pull you can't give the pen any more length. Not so bad for a 5-year old, but it can frustrate a 2-year old!

Hardly worth complaining about such a great device! The little do-dads in the case are nice too, and it's easy to keep track of them (or what you're missing).

My 2 year old adores this toy. She sits and plays with it for long stretches of time and I'm amazed at how it has improved her drawing and writing capability. It is more manageable than paper and writing implement and portable and there is no mess involved. Her drawing skills have really blossomed.

Great price - kids love it. Not sure it is highly educational but my kids love to draw on it. We now have three one for each kid to avoid fights. The only downside is there is a small portion of the screen on two of them that are not pure white but have a gray tinge. It is not a major problem but is noticeable. My guess it connects to ok but not great construction quality.

I recently bought the Doodle Pro for my 2 1/2 year old and she LOVES it. She plays with it endlessly. Her favorite part is the shape 'stampers', though she does enjoy doodling with the pen (and asking Mommy to write her name and draw Elmo for her). I must say, I was having fun with it as well. ;-) Such an improvement over those cardboard-and-plastic-sheet doodle things we had 25 years ago!

I can't say anything about the durability, as she's only had it for a short while. I'm hoping it stands the test of time, but even if it doesn't, it's not too expensive to replace every so often.

My only gripe is the string that holds the pen on. It's a little on the short side and if it gets caught around the corner or back of the toy . . . "Mommy! Stuck! Stuck!" is all I hear until I go 'rescue' her pen. I'm tempted to cut it off the string and just hope she doesn't lose it. I suppose an older child, who could free the sting themselves, would have no issue with it.

Kids start learning to write with a pencil or crayon around 2 years old (give or take). Doodle Pro is a great way for them to build their dexterity, learn to hold a writng instrument, but not make a mess on your carpet or on the walls. My daughter is 15 months old and she loves Doodle Pro--writing with the magnet pen and using the magnet stamps. She can sit and play with it forever. And when the screen is full, she just uses the eraser lever for a clean slate and she starts all over again. PS (Large Doodlepros are only $15 at K-mart!)