My 8 year old daughter got this for Christmas last year and she loves it. She keeps it on her short dresser which is nice because it doesn't take up floor space. She plays with it all the time. She loves to play school with her little sister and friends. It has been durable, the only issue I had was my daughter wiped the chalkboard side with a wet paper towel a few times and it started to warp the board a little. You can't tell unless you push hard on it in a certain spot. This is definitely one toy we have gotten our moneys worth out of.

This table-top easel would be a great and useful "toy" if it were made well. We homeschool and have had this easel for a couple of years. It almost immediately fell apart. We have re-glued and re-stapled it several times. All Melissa and Doug painted-wood items we have purchased have not held together. This is because all the individual parts are painted before gluing, and the joints don't hold. As I stare at the pieces of this easel, which has fallen apart YET AGAIN, I would suggest that you search for a better table-top easel.

This is a great easel. The two sides provide a choice between chalk (which is what we're using most with my two year old) or dry erase marker. One of the best features is the magnetic surfaces on BOTH chalkboard and dry erase surfaces. You can play with this easel either on a table top or just on the floor. Educationally, the sky is the limit.

I highly recommend this easel. It' great fun. Easel(y), one of the best purchases we've made for our child.

I like this little easel very much. I teach literacy and I needed something I could put on top of a table. It allows the kids to have a close view of the letters and words. Since painting is not part of my program, I use the holders for my pencils and markers...Perfect! I have to transport it back and forth several times from my literacy program site to my car, so I do wish that it folded without my having to unscrew the wooded pegs each time. However, if you have a permanent spot for this little easel, you will just love it!

The only problem I had this item was the instant I took it out of its plastic wrap and opened it up, the chalkboard fell out of its hinges on the top. A little bit of extra strength super glue fixed it and am hoping the dry erase side doesn't fall out later. Otherwise my 2.5yr old loves writing with the chalk and putting magnetic letters on the other side. Great investment - even if I have chalk dust all over my floor.