This $16 Find Is One of the Best Purchases I’ve Ever Made at IKEA — And That’s Saying Something
The IKEA kids’ section is a wealth of hits. From high chairs to activity tables to kids’ beds to DIY baby ball kits to possibly the best toy storage system on the planet, kids’ stuff is by far one of our favorite things to get at IKEA. Our five kids all slept on this bunk bed at one point or another, and we’ve had an IKEA art easel (similar to this one) for over a decade (and all the paper rolls to re-fill it). And of course, we love the train set.
Last time I went to IKEA, nearly a year ago, I grabbed something that I was pretty sure my two youngest kids, ages 4 and 6, would enjoy: the M?LA portable drawing case. Since then I have been amazed at how much this drawing case has actually gotten used! I totally underestimated how big of an impact this product would have on our family life. It has been the best kids’ art purchase we’ve ever made at IKEA.
Why IKEA’s M?LA Portable Drawing Case Is a Top 5 IKEA Product For Me
It might seem like packing up a coloring book and some coloring tools in a bag would be just as useful, but we’ve done that in the past and I’m here to report there’s something magical about this portable drawing case. It’s a little take-anywhere art studio that hasn’t gotten ho-hum even with months of frequent use. We bring it with us everywhere the kids might need something to keep them busy. This includes older siblings’ sporting events, restaurants, car rides, etc. The kids even pull out the case when they want to hang out with me at home in the kitchen while I’m cooking!
More reasons why the M?LA drawing case is such a great buy:
The sturdy, hard case: The case consists of a hard surface on one side that can be used to draw or color on, complete with a clip at the top to hold a single paper in place.
Space to stash paper and supplies: It zips open to reveal enough space to stash paper or a coloring book, an open elastic mesh pouch on one side, and then on the other side, a zippered mesh pouch for holding things like scissors or pencil sharpeners.
Elastic to keep things from falling: The elastic slots for holding pencils, crayons, or markers are one of the best parts because it makes it so easy for the kids to see and grab exactly the color they want and the coloring tools stay contained, which goes a long way in preserving our sanity when we’re out and about.
A carrying handle: To top it off, the drawing board has a sturdy carrying handle, also key in making this product such a go-to for parents and kids alike.
The portable drawing board has helped us keep our children happily occupied for significant stretches of time during what could otherwise be stressful situations with restless children. Always ready to go, it’s become a must-have for any outing!
Grab it the next time you’re at IKEA!
