Great Non-Toy Christmas Gift Giveaway #8 - Chalkboard!

It's the last non-toy gift giveaway (for now!), and it's my birthday!! (I'll pause for a moment, because I can only assume that you're all singing "Happy Birthday" to your computer screens... Thank you! That was beautiful.) And now onto the business at hand...

Lucas loves to color. So we often have crayons and paper strewn about our kitchen (and we have some crayon marks on our kitchen floor.) When we were at a friend's house, Lucas discovered the joy of drawing outside with sidewalk chalk, and I thought that a chalkboard would be perfect for him (and me, because chalk is easier to clean up than crayon.) Unfortunately, he likes to throw things, and I wasn't sure a chalkboard would stand up too well to being whipped across the room. And then I found fabric chalkboard mats from Tammy's Sewing!!

Each chalkboard comes with chalk and a little sponge in the built-in zippered pouch!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I read on the Etsy page that the chalkboard needed to be seasoned before use, but it turns out that all that involves is running a piece of chalk on its side over the whole thing and then wiping it off. Even I can handle that!

Let's all admire my chalk skills. Ooo. Ahh!

After I "prepped" the chalkboard mat, I gave it to Lucas and...

He loves it!!

I can't say enough good things about this chalkboard mat! It's quilted, so it's definitely designed to stand up well to little kids. And since it's heavier than a piece of paper or small coloring book, it's perfect for young toddlers who haven't yet mastered the skill of holding the paper still with one hand while coloring with the other.

Lucas thinks erasing it with the damp sponge is every bit as fun as drawing on it. And when it inevitably ended up on the floor and was subsequently jumped on (jumping is one of Lucas's favorite activities), it didn't crack or shatter like a regular chalkboard would've. After only the first day of using it, he switched his normal request of "Cowor? Cowor?" (Lucas for "color") to "Chock? Chock?" (which I first thought meant truck and then Chuck, which was confusing because he doesn't know anyone named Chuck, but it ended up being "chalk.")

Lucas really likes putting the chalk back into the little zippered pouch, too. He's not exactly gentle (he's a toddler boy, after all), so I was a little worried that he would tear the plastic of the pouch, but so far it's holding up really well!

This would be perfect for kids of any age on a long car trip (or flight); it's soft and light, and if some chalk ends up on the car windows, doors or seats, it's much easier to clean up than crayons or markers. (I think it would also be great for homeschooling moms who have younger, non-school-aged kids at home, too, especially if the older kids are using dry erase boards and/or markers, and you want the littles to feel included without you having to clean marker off of anyone's face.)

The chalkboard mats come in a variety of fabric colors and patterns, and they sell for only $12, so they're an inexpensive (and seriously awesome) gift for your own kids or for nieces, nephews, grandchildren, or any other child for whom you want to buy a nice gift without breaking the bank. And Tammy's Sewing is offering free shipping now through December 31 with the coupon code CHRISTMAS2013. 

And one of my great readers is going to win a chalkboard mat of his/her very own! (Although I imagine they'll probably want to share it with a child.) After you enter, remember to enter my seven other giveaways that are currently running!

Enter below the smiling lady, but if you want to click her first, go for it!

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I was provided with a free chalkboard mat in exchange for my honest opinion.