Drawing pads and writing notebooks, Etch-a-Sketches and learning pads – they’re all ways to help children learn how to write, spell, draw and create. There are so many different kinds that it can be hard to decide on which one – or ones – are best for your child. You can purchase a cheap, paper tablet but, soon, it will run out of paper – especially if you have a really young child. You can buy an electronic learning pad and that, even though it doesn’t require paper, can be pretty expensive. Tell you what, go to your kitchen cupboards and you’ll find everything you need to make your child a writing tablet without paper, with no pens or writing implement needed, and one that costs only a few cents. You don’t have to replace supplies for the writing pad and you can make it in just a few seconds.
Grab a baking sheet which has short sides around it, like a cookie sheet or round pizza pan, and use that as the main area of the new writing tablet. Don’t worry; you won’t lose that pan forever. Each time the child is finished writing or drawing you’ll get the pan right back – after a quick rinse. Don’t let that last comment worry you; the pan won’t get too dirty and the “quick rinse” remark can be taken literally.
Besides the pan you only need one other thing. Cornmeal works great as the medium for writing and drawing. Just pour some out on the pan and smooth your hand over it. The child can write and draw, erase, and do some more. Each time a clean surface is needed simply smooth the cornmeal out with your hand.
Your child can just use a finger to draw or write in the cornmeal but another choice is to use an unsharpened pencil, an ink pen or a marker with the top on it to create. In fact, each implement you use will give a slightly different look to your creations.
There are other things which can be used instead of a baking sheet, like a really shallow cardboard box. Instead of cornmeal you can also use sand or even salt.
Pour the cornmeal or other substance in a lidded container or zipper bag when the child is finished drawing. Use it over and over again – it never runs out.