When a toy comes in bare wood, the colours are part of the play. They are not just something to get done before the fun starts. For many children, colouring their own house or their own fire engine is as much fun as playing with it afterwards.
Here are the tips we use ourselves when we colour wooden toys with children.
Get ready before you start
- Put newspaper or an old tablecloth on the table. Acrylic markers are made to stay put.
- Take out the parts you want to colour and leave the rest in the box. That keeps the table calm.
- New acrylic markers often need a shake and a gentle press on a piece of paper before the colour comes through.
Fine or broad tip?
Our markers come with a 1 mm and a 3 mm tip. The fine one is good for details such as windows, signs and faces. The broad one covers larger areas such as roofs, walls and roads. Many families end up using both, because they work well together.
For the youngest, the broad tip is easiest to control. Older children often want the fine one once they start drawing patterns.
Choose a colour world
The markers come in sets of six colours that go together. Playful are the bright primary colours, Wonderland are fairytale colours, and Forest are the colours of the forest. A set colour world makes it easier for children to get started, and it looks good even when they colour freely.
Layer on layer
Let the first layer dry before you colour on top. The markers dry quickly, and a new layer gives deeper colour. You can also draw patterns on top of a surface, for example stripes on a car or flowers on a wall.
Colour again when the play changes
The best thing about bare wood is that it is never finished. When the house has been pink for six months, it can become blue. You can colour on top of what is already there, so the toy keeps up with the child. That is one of the reasons we call it open ended play.
What should you colour first?
Colour together, but let the child decide
It can be tempting to help make it look nice. But for most children the most important thing is that it is their own. A roof that is purple with green dots is exactly right if that is what the child chose. Feel free to sit down and colour your own piece alongside, so you colour together without taking over.
Ideas when the child does not know what to colour
- Colour it like the real thing. What colour is the fire engine? What colour is your own front door?
- Choose a theme. A house in rainbow colours, a town in winter colours or a room in the child's favourite colour.
- Draw details. Flowers on the windowsill, a name sign on the door or stripes on the road.
- Colour only half. Bare wood looks good too, and it leaves room to colour more another day.
How long does it take to dry?
The markers dry quickly, but give them a little time before the parts are clicked together, so the colour does not rub off at the joins. A good habit is to colour before lunch and assemble afterwards.
Colour as part of the play
The colours can become part of the story too. Perhaps the police station needs repainting because there is a new chief. Perhaps the bathroom in Roomies needs new tiles. When colour is something that can change, it becomes an extra way to play, and not just something done once.
Many families end up with a set colouring corner where the markers are ready to use. That way you can colour a little whenever you feel like it, without having to plan it.
Start with something small. A set of road signs or a vehicle from Crateit Town is done quickly and makes children want more. The big pieces such as a fire station or a room from Roomies are perfect for a rainy day when there is time.
Frequently asked questions
Which markers can you use on wooden toys?
Crateit markers are water based acrylic markers made for untreated wood. They cover well and dry quickly, and you can colour on top when the toy needs new colours.
Should I choose 1 mm or 3 mm?
1 mm is good for details, and 3 mm is good for large areas and for the youngest children. Many choose both.
Can you recolour the toys?
Yes. You can colour on top of what is already there, so the toys can change their look when the child's taste changes.
