Over the years we have owned more than a few different types of magnetic drawing pads. Magna Doodles were always a a favorite with my older children when they were younger. Now it seems that Fisher-Price has re-packaged the popular magnetic drawing boards with the trademarked name Doodle Pro. My youngest son received a Fisher-Price Travel Doodle Pro for his 5th birthday. This is exactly the type of gift that gets as close to the mark of a perfect toy for his age.
Let’s Doodle!
The Fisher-Price Travel Doodle Pro is a compact magnetic drawing board that is a smaller version of the larger Doodle Pro models. The Travel Doodle Pro is a lightweight toy that is the perfect size for little hands to carry on-the-go, or for parents to tuck inside a tote or large purse. It could also easily fit in a backpack.
The Fisher-Price Travel Doodle Pro is available in a variety of colors (blue, green, red, yellow, and purple). We have the green version that is the shade of a darker lime green with a yellow border and neon orange magnetic pen and eraser slider. The smaller size is much better for traveling than the full size Doodle Pros. The screen is about six inches wide and four inches in height, in the shape of a rectangle.
The protective covering is made of hard plastic, with rounded edges at the corners. A small handle is located at the top for carrying purposes. The extra small size of the handle is perfect for small children. I could only fit a few fingers in the handle with my adult-sized hand.
Cool Features
Children can draw, doodle, and play unlimited games on the Fisher-Price Travel Doodle Pro. The Magnetic Screen contains magnetic materials that make lines and shadings when the Magnetic Screen Saver Drawing Pen touches the screen surface. The screen is a light gray color and the markings show up as the color black.
The Sliding Eraser Bar is located at the bottom of the Travel Doodle Pro. The orange knob can be grasped with two fingers and pulled along a track to erase the screen markings. The sliding eraser bar can be moved in both directions to erase.
The Screen Saver Drawing Pen is the neatest feature on the Travel Doodle Pro. The pen can be placed in the holder at the top of the board to prevent pictures and drawings from being erased. A long orange string is secured to the pen so that it is attached to the Travel Doodle Pro. The pen is necessary for doodling, so this feature assists in preventing the pen from getting lost or misplaced.
Travel Doodle Pro Thoughts & Recommendation
I much prefer the compact size of the Fisher-Price Travel Doodle Pro and the new screen saver feature of the magnetic pen. It is the perfect everyday travel toy and my son has left his in the car on a few occasions so that he can play with it on car rides. The older kids have used it to play games like tic-tac-toe and Hangman. The erasable feature gives my son practice with writing alphabet letters, his name, and simple words. The light weight of the Travel Doodle Pro makes it easy for small children to carry around.
The Fisher-Price Travel Doodle Pro encourages imagination and allows kids to make mistakes that are erasable. This is the kind of toy that kids will eventually outgrow after many years of play. I grew up with Fisher-Price toys and purchase them for my own children now because I trust the quality of their toys. Fisher-Price adheres to all applicable government safety regulations and conforms to the Safety Requirements of ASTM F963, as stated on the product package.
I recommend Fisher-Price Travel Doodle Pro for children from 3-9, as suggested by the manufacturer. Preschool and early elementary aged children will enjoy this toy the best. At only about $7, this would make a great birthday or holiday gift for a child. The compact version has all the standard features of a full size Doodle Pro, with a lower cost and the ability to provide hours of fun while on the go.
Manufacturer Information
Fisher-Price, Inc., a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc.
East Aurora, NY 14052
Phone: 1-800-432-5437
Website: www.fisher-price.com
