Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board Reviews

• Disappointing gift left by Santa (I'm not taking credit)

  
  By A1HU17T9UQP35A on 2007-12-26
  We purchased this item for our daughter for Christmas. It was slated (by my wife) to be the best gift under the tree. While it was well received by our 4 year old daughter, there are some disappointing issues worth noting.
  
  As other reviwers have mentioned, the cleaning of the board is a major design flaw. Using a soft tissue requires pretty heavy handed rubbing (impossible for a young child) - and this technique also led to scratching of the plastic board. Yes thats right - soft tissue scratched the board. Using a moistened wipe just creates a smudged board. As you can see - neither method is ideal. The instructions offer no suggestions on cleaning techniques.
  
  Markers are very dry. A simple man would assert that less dry markers would result in a nicer glow. I can tell after 1 day of use these markers will not be useable much longer.
  
  See the graphics on the box showing the board's drawings "glow"? Don't hold your breath. You can get a decent effect with the lights out - but even then its not brilliant.
  
  Overall - this is just a major disappointment. The commercials for this product make it look great - heck - thats why we bought it! But the end result is a toy that will likely be discarded sooner rather than later.
  
  I recommend moon sand - our daughter hasn't put that stuff down since she opened it! :-)
  
  

• Great for creative children, but poor quality

  
  By A2QPS55OFP0YHA on 2007-12-08
  My kids have had this toy for three days now, and they're still in love with it. However, there are some issues with the two plastic drawing surfaces--they are very difficult to clean and they scratch easily. Even extensive cleaning with baby wipes will still leave a lot of residue. The colors no longer stand out as much as a result.
  
  

• Fun for everyone!

  
  By A3K775LNQ34QJF on 2007-12-09
  I am 24 years old and I received this as an xmas gift. It is so much fun for all ages! It was officially named "coolest gift ever" by everyone at the xmas party.
  It is simple to use once you read the instructions, the glowing effect is amazing! I would recommend this for older children, as it may be hard for youngin's to understand the steps needed to make the animated picture effect, and a few drops on a tile floor might break this toy. As far as educational value, I suppose it teaches about light refraction, if you want to get into that with your kids. It cleans up great with a damp cloth. Also, make sure you have 3 AA batteries on hand, they do not come included.
  
  

• Dumb piece of Junk

  
  By AVDD257PJ0LG1 on 2007-12-12
  This has got to be one of the cheapest pieces of junk my kids have received. My 5 year old got it for her birthday. My kids are very good about putting away toys and cleaning them up. However, the screens are very hard to erase and the markers dry out quickly. I don't think my of a toy that has little marker holders on the sides, but then say to specifically store the markers in another fashion. My kids (ages 5 & 8) played with it for all of 20 minutes, were wow'd by the flashing factor and haven't taken it out again to play in the month since we've had it. Waste of money.
  
  

• Cute concept--a good addition the Crayola line

  
  By A3NIXZNOIRCFAT on 2007-12-25
  My eight-year old received this for Christmas and is enjoying it. It comes with six markers and one picture that you can trace. It comes with two drawing surfaces: the main one and a clear plastic board that sits behind the main surface. You can take the plastic board out and snap it on front of the main surface and draw one version of a scene, then slide that board in back and create another version of that scene on the main board. When you turn the "glow" part on, it will "light up" the front scene, or the back scene, or both at the same time. There is also an option (our favorite) where it blinks back and forth between the two scenes which makes it look like the scene is in motion. The distance and overlapping scenes does create somewhat of a 3-D effect.
  
  The scenes light up fine in a lighted room, but look more dramatic in the dark. Some disadvantages are that the markers are small in size (I'm wondering how long they will work well). The directions warn that they dry out "much" faster than regular markers if you leave the caps off. Also, they recommend storing them in a ziploc bag. Sometimes it is hard to see what you are drawing as the markers don't show up well unless the scene is being lit up.
  
  Overall, I think it's a good product...fun and different. It offers a different dimension to their art and the glow effect is cool. We haven't had any problems cleaning the boards--no more than with any surface like that (dry erase, overhead projector, etc.) you just have to be fastidious to get all the residue off, but it's not a big deal).
  
  Also, you can go to the Crayola site and print off more pictures to trace if you'd like (there are about 15 of them). They also have a spot there where you can design your own and print them off, but the selections are limited and the scenes kind of dumb. For example, there is a snowman there that turns into a skeleton--why the need to be macabre?
  
  
• clean with water and paper towel-- use again and again
  By A1N8BVGV18SGY7 on 2007-12-27
  while good for kids (it cleans with DAMP PAPER TOWEL, NOT DRY, and quite easily at that), kids may not appreciate the 2-tiered animation effect.
  
  Crayola: where are the extra markers to buy? Mine are lasting well, but ???
  
  This gadget should be marketed to small businesses-- it is an excellent low-cost way to create a simple eye-catching message that is easily changed. It's doing wonders for our Broadway theatre.
  
  
  
• Awesome idea poorly executed
  By A3L1N1CMWM5BQS on 2007-12-31
  This definately was the winner on Christmas morning for my 6 year old. Too bad it stopped working on Christmas afternoon. Probably our fault when daughter used a too-wet rag to wash off the marker, but we'll never know for sure.
  
  
• Pretty Good Toy
  By A3TE2FDGXSRPW2 on 2008-11-14
  The kids had fun with this but it is really hard to clean off. Plus the light-up effect only works in a really blacked-out room so they should have made the buttons light up. My daughter complained about that. Overall, it's a so-so toy compared to pencil and paper. Still, a neat effect.
  
  
• Cool toy for little artists!
  By A1SUPH93A8B704 on 2008-01-12
  We got this for our 4 year old son for Christmas! He loves it! There are 2 different plates that you draw on with the included markers. Other reviewers commented that it was difficult to erase. I didn't find that to be a problem. I just use a damp paper towel and it comes right off. I do want to note that the second drawing plate is difficult to draw on because I can't get the board to light up when you draw on it. It also stays on, most toys will turn themselves off after 5 minutes or so. Not the case here, so you need to keep track to see if it has been turned off. Other than that, I think it's a neat toy.
  
  
• Fun for a 5 Year Old
  By AZA6VOS51C4UI on 2008-02-27
  Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board
  
  I got the Crayola Glow Board for my five year old son and he loved it! For him the fun came from the unique effects he could make on the two panel drawing surface and then turn of the lights to see how they glow.
  
  At first he was just drawing lines and shapes just to see the glowing effect when he turned out the lights. Then we found on Crayola.com that there were a bunch of print outs he could use to trace. They even have a program that lets him make his own two frame drawing on Crayola.com then print them out to trace on the Glow Board.
  
  The best part for us was how much it keep him entered on a long road trip we recently did. Once it started to get e bit dark outside he was able to draw in the dark. He even made a sign that read "Are we there yet"!
  
  
• NOT as great as i thought
  By A2DKO3LH1DR20S on 2008-06-19
  I figured my 6 yr old would love this and she did for 2mo or so. I couldnt find any markers that go with it around here so once she wore the markers out the board became Useless. Within 3 mo of purchasing it was up in the closet not being used....
  
  
• Fun fun fun!
  By AS79OI0N8DWIX on 2007-12-23
  My 5yr old is loving this glow board! It took a couple of trys to get him to understand (he is autistic) that you can copy the designs included with the board (and not draw on the designs) and have them glow, but he absolutly loves it! Thanks crayola for another great invention!
  
  
• This is SOOOOOO cool!
  By A2HEX70N1K95YF on 2008-01-12
  I got this for my 5 year old daughter, who loves to draw. She absolutely adores it, and so does the rest of the family! She can turn on the lights and draw in the dark. I like the way you can draw 2 different pictures and have it alternate lighting them up.
  
  
• Kids had fun with this for a couple of days
  By AVXEJG1VJDERV on 2008-06-30
  Well built and really neat to play with. The kids just lost interest after a couple of days playing with it.
  
  Wife and I had printed out pictures off the Internet (Dora, Deigo, Blues Clues) and slipped the paper in for them.
  
  Nice 3Dish look.
  
  
• Fun but hard to clean
  By A2E3MVZRNYM2B1 on 2008-11-19
  My six year old son received this for his birthday in April. He's played with it quite often since then. Everyone in our family thinks it's so much fun and the effects are really cool. The main problem is cleaning it. I've tried several different things and none work as well as I'd like. I wish they'd give some better ideas about cleaning in the instructions.
  
  
• Cool toy to spur creativity
  By A2JLDER5UES1Q3 on 2007-12-28
  I purchased this for my daughter who just turned five and is in kindergarten. She got it Christmas morning and was playing it with her cousin who is six and in first grade. Both loved making fun pictures, although they did not get the dual-screen functionality until I demonstrated it to them. Then they were off to the races.
  
  For the price, this is a great gift for any small child. Not only is it fun, it encourages artistic creativity and some really cool art projects.
  
  
• crayola
  By ADAFP72HGC73U on 2007-12-28
  This is the greatest new toy ever!!
  
  I know that the young kids will enjoy it, because I love it, (46) and the 20, 19, and 18 year old teen agers I bought it for love it too!!
  
  
• Neat toy for the artist in your family
  By A1VO4FI94Z8EKW on 2008-01-08
  This is a neat little toy for the artist in your family. We bought 2 for Christmas and they have been enjoyed to say the least. They are a good price here on amazon. We got them when they were on sale. The children really enjoy being able to draw on them over and over. Only problem that I forsee is the little paper towels that are sitting all over the house from cleaning them off. Of course it is much better than the millions of papers that we had before!
  
  
• Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board
  By A1OWZ63DEPMSY1 on 2008-01-12
  Super Fun! Daughter plays hours with this toy. Wipe off screen and draw again over and over ...light it up for neat looking pictures! Very Satisfied with this toy!
  
  
• Great product with neat features!
  By A236PRYFRLWFH2 on 2008-10-02
  All three of my daughters (ages 5, 7, and 11), love to play with this. It is pretty neat how the board lights up and adds dimension to their artwork. I also like that you can stand it up with the built in easel on the back of it. The slots to store the markers in is very convenient also and after 1 year we have only lost 1 marker!
  
  
• Cool Fun
  By A2JM8EABA76JCZ on 2008-11-08
  My 7 year old son received this from Santa - it was a big hit! It was hard to clean so you must wet a paper towel. Great fun for making "Happy Birthday" signs and party signs when people are coming over to visit. I think it inspires creativity - he has made some really cool pictures. Good product by Crayola!
  
  
• FANTASTIC!
  By A1WL5FOX3DM9CY on 2008-11-24
  I purchased this item for each of my sons as they love to draw with markers. My older son is creating masterpieces at 4 while his younger brother, even at 19 months, is having a blast. I draw with him and it's a fun way for us to practice colors and shapes.
  Yes, you must have darkness for the pictures to glow, but what do you expect? It has to be dark for the lights to illuminate. I have not had any problem with the glow intensity of the markers. With the lights out they're brilliant and my boys love them. We especially like the underlying board, which allows you to draw a picture underneath the top board for a cool two dimensioanl effect.
  I have used a soft wet cloth to clean and used a dry cloth to dry. I haven't had any issues yet and no scratches.
  I can proudly say that this item keeps my two very active boys busy for a nice chunk of time and since they each have their own, NO FIGHTING! My only concern at this point is that if they continue to use the boards at this rate, the markers will dry out.
  I definitely recommend this prodcut!
  
  
• Wonderful
  By A1CBNMSH083ZSU on 2007-12-27
  Not only is my daughter having a great time with the toy, but her father, her cousins (over 20 year old), and her aunts have had fun using the toy.
  
  
• Creative Tool for Preschooler
  By A1IE0GAJEN4LSB on 2007-12-27
  My 5YO son loves this. You can make 3 D pictures and choose how to project them as far as what will be highlighted. It is a cool toy. You have to wipe off the drawings with a wet paper towel, so it's not as easy to travel with as a doodle board, but my son thinks it is amazing, so we just take one with us. I think I will order some backup pens, since it states they dry out quickly.
  
  
• Lots of Fun
  By AGEVD6DET7NJ8 on 2008-01-04
  We got this item for my niece, and the adults were having as much fun as she was. It was a bit confusing to figure out how to use the multiple screens to change scenes, so don't rely on the directions (quite bad). Just experiment and you will figure it out. You can use coloring book pages in the frame, and the only future cost may be replacement pens, so I would probably order a set of those.
  
  
• Surprisingly fun
  By A36XI02HSJID76 on 2008-01-07
  I was surprised at how much fun this toy is. It will give hours of fun on our next road trip. It is very durable. We us wet wipes to clean off the board surface and a dry wash cloth to dry it off. I would give this toy a 10 rating.
  
  
• Endless Fun!
  By ANNWPHOU1IB40 on 2008-01-07
  My daughter (9 years old) played with this Christmas present the entire day (suprisingly, even more than her new ipod)! It really is a great toy-prompting imaginative drawings and animation. The entire family had fun passing the board around and creating animated scenes, that switch back and forth due to the back-lit board. We travel a lot, and this toy also allows her to draw in the car at night. My one suggestion to Crayola would be to include an eraser that clears the marker off the board. Currently we keep a pack of wet wipes and tissues handy.
  
  
• Alot of fun.
  By A2OOV7DXNRAMRD on 2008-01-14
  This toy is alot of fun, but when you set it up to switch between the two screens automatically, it goes a good speed, then faster, then so fast that you cant even read it, then back slow, then back fast and so on.
  
  
• Fun Fun Fun ... (n__n)
  By A38IEZF0P3ZUQJ on 2008-11-23
  I originally planned to buy one of these for my Niece for Christmas and I just had to get one for myself to play around with. I had fun animating my own mini cartoon characters and just play around with it. I agree with previous reviewers that the markers are very dry and they could of possibly provided you with BIGGER markers maybe dual tipped *One Broad - One Thin* The Quality isn't very good that a drop could break the fragile plastic and wiping off requires one dry cloth and one damp. But for a creative older child they might have fun with this. Adults too !! I know my niece will Love it. :D
  
  
• Sloppy quality control
  By A1CRTH9DRTQIH4 on 2008-11-25
  I just received this Crayola product. It arrived in a factory sealed container, without the cover for the battery compartment. There is also an empty cardboard pocket, taped to the bottom portion of the box. I think this might be where the Chinese manufacturer was going to put batteries. I had to return this product, because the batteries won't stay in the compartment without the cover. It's sad because Crayola used to be an American label.
  
  

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