There is something really special about the feel of pen to paper. Those of us who are nerdy enough to go on a nostalgia trip over the smell of fresh paper are undoubtedly old. But it’s simply not sustainable to use paper for doodling silly things anymore, especially when there are brilliant and effective alternatives that leave behind a much smaller carbon footprint. What’s more, there’s a massive amount of future-proofing and early integration that will make children naturally prepared for their future in this digital age.
So it’s safe to say that digital drawing and writing pads are the way to go when it comes to keeping your child engaged. These tablets don’t ever get exhausted so you won’t have to worry about your kid running out of paper to draw and doodle. It also helps that since most of our work now takes place on digital screens, the children who start early will become natural at what is definitely going to be a norm when they grow older.
Related: 8 Top Drawing Tablets for Kids Ages 8-12
Best 12-inch drawing pad for kids
1. Cimetech 12-Inch Handwriting Paper Drawing Pad
The expansive 12-Inch LCD writing board and 12-month battery life make sure that your kid will never run out of things to do. The major reason this tablet is on top of our list is because of its multi-color text feature and high positive feedback from customers. The tablet has been made extra kid-friendly with a lock-key feature to avoid accidental erasures.
Alternately, the tablet also offers convenience in the form of a one-click clear function to erase all the content on the tablet in one go. The different variety of colors built into the tablet make it a good coloring/scribbling book alternative that will keep your child entertained forever. The drawing tablet comes with an additional battery as well.
► Buy on Amazon: Cimetech 12-Inch Handwriting Paper Drawing Pad ($ 19.99)
2. STREET WALK LCD Writing Pad
If you’re looking for another option in the 12-inch digital drawing category, then the STREET WALK LCD Writing Tablet should satisfy your requirements. Besides the one-click clear function and lock key features that are similar to the Cimetech tablet, the feature that sets the STREET WALK tablet apart is the convenient battery replacement slot which makes it easy to remove the battery and replace it if that’s what you’re looking for. There is no need to unscrew anything on the tablet in order to make any changes to it.
► Buy on Amazon: STREET WALK LCD Writing Pad ($19.99)
Related: Best movie-making apps for kids on Android
Best 10-inch drawing pad for kids
1. FLUESTON LCD Writing Pad
This tablet is pressure sensitive which is what sets it apart from the rest as well. Besides this, it’s ideal if you’re looking for a 10-inch lightweight tablet that can handle some wear and tear. Keep in mind that the 9.6-ounce tablet’s stylus does not have a specific slot on the tablet and is carried separately.
► Buy on Amazon: FLUESTON LCD Writing Pad ($19.98)
2. AFN LCD Writing Tablet Drawing Pad
Another alternative if you’re unable to get the FLUESTON tablet, this AFN tablet comes with a similar pressure-sensitive feature and is fairly lightweight at 9.9 ounces. This tablet is a 2021 model that is equipped to be waterproof and drop-proof giving it an upper-
► Buy on Amazon: AFN LCD Writing Tablet Drawing Pad ($18.99)
Related: Top 7 drawing apps on Android for kids
Best 8.5-inch drawing pad for kids
1. SUNLU LCD Writing Tablet 8.5inch Drawing Pad
In terms of compact size and lightweight option, the SUNLU tablet is ideal in the 8.5-inch tablet range. It’s extremely cost-effective and offers the same features and the 10 and 12-inch tablets but in a smaller size. Consider this tablet as a first-time option to gauge how your child responds to it.
► Buy on Amazon: SUNLU LCD Writing Tablet 8.5inch Drawing Pad ($6.79)
2. Sunany LCD Writing Pad
As another alternative in the 8.5-inch category, the SUNANY LCD Writing Tablet comes with all the perks that SUNLU has to offer. An added benefit is an extra Stylus in case you have a clumsy and accident-prone kid. Sunany’s overwhelmingly positive customer feedback also gives it another reason for consideration.
► Buy on Amazon: Sunany LCD Writing Pad ($9.11)
Best Digital drawing and writing pads for Toddlers
1. GUYUCOM Colorful Drawing Doodle Board
The GUYUCOM tablet embodies everything necessary to make it toddler-friendly. It has an adorable pig design, is drop-proof, and has a screen that reflects bright and luminous text. This tablet also has the most amount of positive feedback from parents both for toddlers and children.
Buy in Amazon: GUYUCOM Colorful Drawing Doodle Board ($10.99)
2. Gatibilin LCD Writing Pad
A much newer option, the Gatibilin LCD Writing Tablet comes in a cute Panda design along with the same features as the GUYUCOM option. It’s also worth noting how the design incorporates the erase button on the cute nose of the Panda. This tablet is ideal as a gifting option.
► Buy on Amazon: Gatibilin LCD Writing Pad ($9.99)
Best digital drawing and writing pad for child artists
1. Wacom Intuos Draw
If your child is displaying an ability for sketching and graphic design, then Wacom Intuos Draw is an ideal option that comes equipped with a battery-free pen and the 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity that a beginner/child will need. Connect the tablet to a laptop/Macbook and begin sketching effortlessly.
The tablet also comes with a CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO 2-year software license and 90-day trials of Corel Painter Essential and Corel AfterShot Pro 3 making it an ideal beginner tablet for your artistic child.
► Buy on Amazon: Wacom Intuos Draw ($79.78)
2. iskn The Slate 2+ Pencil & Paper Graphic Pad
Unlike Wacom, the iskn tablet comes with a screen and is more loyal to the tablet theme than the Wacom tablet. The beauty of the tablet is that it can be connected to a laptop/Macbook and it will behave exactly the way that Wacom does. One aspect of the iskn slate that is undeniable is the authentic pen and paper experience that it delivers. It comes in the size of A5 paper, with 6 hours of battery life and 4GB internal memory making it an ideal option as a starter tablet just like Wacom. Alternatively, it can also be connected to a laptop/Macbook if you want to optimize its performance.
► Buy on Amazon: iskn The Slate 2+ Pencil & Paper Graphic Pad ($99.00)
3. HUION HS64 Chips Special Edition Graphics Drawing Pad
HUION HS64 is another alpha in the graphics drawing tablet. It comes in a cute yellow angry birds theme and can be connected to Android phones with an adapter. The tablet is compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Painter, Autodesk Sketchbook, Manga Studio, Clip Studio, and Zbrush which makes it the most inclusive tablet on this list. The Drawing glove is also an added benefit that comes with this tablet.
► Buy on Newegg: HUION HS64 Chips Special Edition Graphics Drawing Pad ($76.00)
The main focus of all digital tablets is to deliver an experience that comes closest to the way that pen and paper used to feel. Of course, while the experience won’t be absolutely authentic, it’s the thought that counts. So we hope you find the ideal digital pad for your child in this list. Do let us know in case of queries in the comments. Take care and stay safe!
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