Cool New Back to School Supplies: Crayola Dry Erase Crayons

Have you tried the new white board product from Crayola?

Whether you are an educator, a parent, or both, you are no doubt thrilled when a new product comes along that makes your work easier, more interesting, or that benefits the youngsters you interact with in some specific way. The days of chalkboards and squeaky writing, dust, and chills running down your spine at a slip of the chalk aren't completely gone, but over the last few decades, we have had some great alternatives. Overhead projectors are one of my favorite alternatives, but dry erase boards became preferred, with a bolder display than that of the blackboard. Both alternatives come with challenges, however.

Overhead projectors use lots of electricity, especially if you are a math teacher who is going to be working many problems and giving notes by this method on a daily basis. If you are as prone to sloppiness as I was, you probably also deal with an incessant discoloring of your skin, from wiping the acetate clean, and starting fresh.

Meanwhile, the markers used on white boards carry a strong odor, and dry out much too quickly. In a year's stint as the television math teacher for a homework help program, I dealt with the unpleasant fumes of the spray cleaner for these boards, between problems. Even so, sometimes it could be difficult to get rid of the smudges left by dry erase markers.

I saw the new Crayola product in an ad last weekend, and while at the store, noticed them. I decided to make the $4.99 investment so that we could try them out at home. I use a large erasable white board to list chores and other important notes, and several small ones for grocery lists, menus, and for the kids' to practice school work on. I'm constantly dealing with dried out white board pens, or looking for a Vis a Vis wet erase marker. The first, and perhaps, best characteristic of the Crayola set is that there is no lid.

Crayons aren't going to dry out, as they are really crayons. Really! No chemical stench! Just be careful...leave them in a hot vehicle in the middle of summer, and they will melt. Mine melted a tiny bit, but not badly...considering they were out in the car for several hours, I was fortunate not to find a puddle of waxy goo!

The box of 8 crayons includes an erasing mitt, as well. When I tried it out, it did a good job, but I was a little concerned at some smudges that didn't come completely off...it's like having a light tint to the board. The markings go away, but the background is tainted. However, the box states that you can use water to get rid of stubborn smudges. A napkin, lightly dampened, did the trick perfectly! No more smudge! No chemical smell from the cleaners needed for this issue when it's a marker, either.

I did some scribbling, in different colors, and they wiped away great. But that wasn't enough for me...I use other surfaces for dry erase work. I tried the crayons on my fridge, and the markings came off perfectly. Mirror? Yep! Wall? Yep! Desk top? Yep! I thought about trying this on my computer screen, but didn't want to push the edges further!

I also tried the vinyl tablecloth on my dining room table, and found that the product erased well there, too. If you need a good way to keep the children occupied at a party, a plain white, vinyl tablecloth, and a box of white board crayons should do the trick! For parents who are challenged by kids who draw on the walls and furniture, this might be a good item to keep handy!

The final challenge, for me, was seeing the familiar smudged colors on my hands, from wiping the boards clean. Trust me, I spent several years of being teased for the blue smudges on my hands, after wiping Vis a Vis markings from the overhead projector, and soap and water weren't sufficient, then. However, the crayon smudges came off right away, with soap and water.

All told, I'm pleased with the performance of these crayons, and compared to dry erase markers, I believe I will get much better mileage from this product, with much less waste and frustration. Besides that, my kids already love them, and my 6 year old spent the evening working on writing...this is a great investment, as back to school supplies go, whether for your classroom, or for your child!