Three times each on paper is so passé – paint your spelling words instead!

Remember how I raved about the Buddha Board when Claire was 3? It was a mess free painting experience and much beloved by both my preschooler AND all the adults in our lives. Now that Claire is nearly 8 the Buddha Board is still going strong and used all the time for spelling practice (and doodling of course!)

This is one of those “toys” that is not traditionally recommended for toddlers and preschoolers, (I can’t see why – it’s only water and rice paper) but I’ve found Claire has been a responsible user. I provide a small creamer of water and allow her to fill the container. The brush has a built in resting place on the stand, the board leans back at a 30 degree angle for easy painting. It’s a really fantastic little self-contained unit and fits nicely on our end table in the living room. The high contrast of the water against the rice paper is awesome – it’s such a vivid, if temporary piece of artwork.

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UPDATE: September 2015 — there is a kid-friendly version of the Buddha Board now with a full length lip to catch drips. It comes in a bunch of awesome colors too! Check it out on Amazon.

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I predicted back in 2011 that it would be a great tool for handwriting and early literacy activities, but I never would have guessed how much my now 8 year old would adore the Buddha Board for spelling practice.

No buddha board? Try a chalkboard or thick construction paper.