()I am totally inept when it comes to building things, so I saved it for my husband. Maybe he made it look easy, but it only took him about 15 minutes with an automatic screwdriver and I didn't hear any swearing so I figured that was a good sign. Like with other Step2 products, it seems very sturdy.
My son knew it was for him and went over to it immediately upon completion. However, he had a bit of trouble getting his legs over and inside the desk. He's almost 3 but is above the 100th percentile in both height and weight (40" tall and 41#), so he's a big kid--probably about the size of at least a normal 4 or 5 year old--and he seems to be almost too big for this desk. Yes he can sit at the desk, but it takes a bit of finagling and it looks a bit awkward.
I think the desktop itself could be just a bit larger. It won't even fit a regular-sized coloring book--so the book has to sit cockeyed on it or you have to shove it between the sides so the ends curl up. Also, the holes for markers/pencils/crayons is neat, but I feel it's a bit too shallow for markers and the holes are a bit too big for crayons (but not big enough for two) so you really can't fit that many in there. Books do fit behind the marker stand but not in the desk itself (under the lid).
We don't have a lot of space so thought this was a good option. We'll see how much my son actually uses it, as it's been together for about five days and he's played at it three times for maybe a total of 15 minutes.
()The Art Easel Desk possesses all the qualities I've come to know and love about the Step 2 company's products. They make products that hold up even with the toughest kids. Believe me I know. Assembly was really easy, but somewhat time consuming. Getting the screws through the hard plastic will take some muscle. I don't consider myself all that savvy when it comes to putting things together or to have much in the muscles department, but I had this up and ready to use in about 45 minutes. The instructions have nicely illustrated pictures and everything is labeled with a letter. I loved how easy they were to follow.
This desk is recommended for ages 1 1/2 + I honestly think a child under 2 would be too tiny to really enjoy this. Size wise this is perfect for kids between the ages of 2-5. My 6 year old is even enjoying it, but she is too big to really use the desk side. It is very stable unlike some of the table and chair sets made for toddlers. I don't think this would have any tipping issues. I love the hidden compartment under the small whiteboard. It is a great place to stow crayons and a coloring book. The other organizer keeps markers handy and within reach. If there were bins underneath I'd consider this the perfect starter desk for toddlers and preschoolers.
This is all around durable product, and exactly what you'd expect from Step 2.
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()This is a sturdy little plastic desk and easel combination best suited for ages 1 to 4.We tried it in a small classroom with ages 1 to 7.The desk is sized best for ages 2-4 and the easel for ages 1-3.Older than that would either hunch over at the desk or be too tall for the easel, which is just under 3 feet tall.While slightly larger children could still use it for shorter periods, if you are shopping for someone older than 4 look for something more appropriate.
For the younger children, the desk and easel worked well and it was nice and sturdy.It was pretty much what we expected, as we have a similar desk (without easel) made by Today's Kids.We (and the children) really like that this can be used by 2 children at once.
Assembly was fairly simple.It is held together by a bunch of screws that you poke through a hole in once piece into a dimple in the other, and push hard enough to start a new hole.Be careful not to over-tighten; there isn't much resistance when fully tight so watch to see when the screw is all the way in.It does require a bit of force to start a new hole, and be sure to push the screw in straight so it starts correctly.
Both whiteboards (one on the desk and one for the easel) arrived chipped around the edges, which was disappointing.
This is a small and stable desk which doesn't take up much room; however, note that it does NOT "fold for easy storage" as the product description on amazon states.
Recommended for small children.
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()We bought this easel for our 3 yr old nephew who loves to draw and paint. My husband assembled it prior to giving it to him as a gift, and setup was easy, only taking about 10 minutes.
It seems very sturdy, and although it was smaller than I expected, it is more than adequate for a young child. However, our nephew is of average size, and I think the desk might be outgrown fairly quickly. His 5 year old older sister is already too large for the desk.
Our nephew loves using the easel.He has spent countless hours both sitting in the chair, drawing and painting to his hearts delight. All in all, this easel provides good value for the money.
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()As a parent of four children, I'm always on the lookout for creative art solutions for them. We have a small space in our townhome, so we can't always go with huge easels and other art solutions. So that's why we love this art easel desk. It's nice in that at least two kids can be occupied at the same time. One can sit and the other can stand. If your kids are younger, you might even get two at the desk.
We also like the storage space underneath the desk/drawing area. This allows you to store your markers and other art utensils. Also, this is made of durable, flexible plastic--kid friendly--so they won't get hurt when they bump into it and it won't snap or crack. It's also just the right size. IT won't take up a ton of room, especially if you have a small space.
Lastly, the instructions were surprisingly easy. It was a snap to put together. I highly recommend this art station.
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This is the 2nd biggest set in the Duplo Bob the Builder series, but it seems to be the most pleasing playwise, as it comes with a building with opening windows and door, table and chairs, Bob, his cat, and Travis.It also comes with a trailer to put the house on, and it can be towed by Travis.While the Scoop and Lofty set has two vehicles in it, the buildings do not build up to much of anything, so you would just end up having more loose blocks around the house (that big set has 80+ pieces).I couldn't justify spending the extra money on it either.I recommend this one as the best in the series.
