Researchers Found: Toddlers With 4 Toys Played Longer Than Toddlers With 16. 7 Reasons to Give This Little Writing Set Instead of One More Toy.
From Clara's grandpa, a retired mail carrier, about four small books with letters pressed into the page and a pen whose ink fades on its own. A gift for preschool into early school that gets used long after the wrapping paper is gone.
I carried mail for 31 years, and every January I walked past flattened toy boxes at the curb. Then I bought my granddaughter Clara a talking robot dog anyway. It barked for a week and now lives under her bed. If your grandchild is learning to write, here's why this one might be worth skipping the toy aisle for.
Most grandkids have plenty of toys. What they can use is help with their letters.
Ask the parents. My daughter Michelle told me Clara's playroom was already full. Some parents will also tell you their little one knows the alphabet but can't quite make the letters yet. That was Clara at four. The crayon went in a fist. Her name came out as a scribble.
That's not a problem with the child. Writing is a hand skill, and hands need practice. A gift that gives them that practice, in a way that feels like play, is a gift that actually gets used.
One more toy can mean shorter play, not longer
Researchers watched toddlers play in a room with 4 toys, and again with 16 toys[1]. With fewer toys, the children played with each toy for longer stretches and found more ways to use it.
That was a small study with 36 toddlers. But I've watched the same thing on Christmas afternoon at our house. A big pile means a little time with each thing. One good, simple thing on the table can hold a child a lot longer.
Coloring books and tracing pads get used up, and nothing keeps the pencil on the line
A coloring book or tracing pad is a nice idea. But each page gets one try. Fill it in, and it's done. Make a mistake, and it stays. The one I bought Clara lasted one afternoon.
And on a flat page, nothing holds a little pencil on the letter. The hand wobbles, slides off, and the shape comes out crooked. So the child gets a crooked letter, and then the page is gone.
The letters are pressed into the page, so the pen has a path to follow
Every letter in the Magic Copybook is a groove pressed into the paper. The pen tip drops into the groove and follows the letter.
When a small hand wobbles, the groove helps keep the pen on the path. So your grandchild traces the whole shape of the letter, start to finish. The set includes a little dolphin shaped grip that slips onto the pen, so small fingers have a comfortable place to hold. Clara puts the dolphin on herself now before she starts.
Why the Groove Works When Sheets Didn't
| Tracing sheets | Workbooks | Magic Copybook | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps the pen on the letter | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Wrong tries fade away on their own | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Same page, again and again | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| No printer ink to buy | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No screens | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The ink fades on its own, so the same book works visit after visit
The pen's ink fades by itself in about 30 minutes. Then the page is clean, ready to use again. No erasing and no new book to buy.
That's what makes it a gift with a long life. It's as fresh on the tenth visit as it was the day they opened it. At my house, we made a game of it with my old mail satchel. Clara "stamps" the letters, and after lunch the pages are clean, so she stamps them all over again.
You don't need to know how to teach it. You just sit beside them.
Slip the dolphin grip on the pen. Open to any page. Let them trace. The groove does the guiding, so you don't have to steer their hand. I sure don't.
When they're ready for plain paper, go step by step at their pace. Put a sheet next to the book: a letter in the groove, then the same letter on the sheet. Later, the sheet first, and back to the groove when they get stuck. A quiet stretch at the table, just the two of you.
How It Works
The pen drops in and follows the letter.
In about 30 minutes the page is clean.
Then try the same letter on plain paper.
Four books, one pen, no batteries, and easy to mail
The set has four books: letters (capitals and small letters), numbers, math and drawing. Plus the pen, five refills and the dolphin finger grip. Each book is about 7 by 5 inches, easy to wrap and easy to mail to grandkids a few states away.
No screens, no batteries, no mess on anyone's carpet. It's made for preschool up through early school, so it gets used long after the holidays.
- Better pencil gripThe dolphin grip guides little fingers into a good hold.
- Steadier linesThe groove keeps each stroke on the path.
- Longer focusShort, happy practice that ends before the tears.
- Reusable pagesInk fades, so every page is new again.
I've got three grandkids under seven, so this year it's the three pack. Got more than one grandchild learning to write? The more sets you get, the more you save.
Questions Grandparents Ask
What is a grooved magic copybook?
It's a practice book with letters, numbers and shapes pressed into the paper as grooves. The pen tip sits in the groove and follows the path, so a small hand that wobbles stays on the letter. The ink fades on its own, so the same page can be used again and again.
How does the disappearing ink work, and how long does it take to fade?
The pen writes in ink that fades on its own in about 30 minutes. Once it's gone, the page is clean and ready for another try, with nothing to erase. When a pen refill runs low, swap in a new one. Five refills come in the box.
Is the Magic Copybook a good gift for a grandchild?
Yes. It's small, light and easy to mail, it's screen free, and it's something a child can use again and again. The four books cover letters, numbers, math and drawing, so it grows with them from preschool into early school.
Does it need batteries or charging?
No. It's four paper books and a pen. No batteries, no charger and no app.
Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It's paper books and a pen, with no app, no tablet and no screen. Many families use it as a calm, screen free activity after school, in the car or at a restaurant.
What age is the Magic Copybook for?
Ages 3 and up. It fits preschool, pre-K and kindergarten kids who are learning to write letters, numbers and their own name. Early school kids who need extra practice use it too.
What comes in the Magic Copybook Practice Set?
Four books: Alphabet (capital and small letters), Numbers, Math and Drawing. Plus one pen, five ink refills and a dolphin shaped finger grip. Each book is about 5.2 by 7.3 inches, small enough for a purse or a car bag.
How much does the Magic Copybook cost?
The set is $37.99 with free shipping. Buy 2 and save 20%, or buy 3 and save 30%, which helps when you have more than one child or want one for a cousin or a grandchild.
What if it's not right for my child?
Easy returns. You can try it at home with your child and see how they take to it.
Pick Your Set
- Free shipping
- Easy returns
- Secure checkout
The Magic Copybook Practice Set is a learning toy for writing practice at home. It is not a substitute for advice from a teacher, doctor or occupational therapist.
ADVERTISEMENT. This page is marketing for Bright Bloomer, which sells the Magic Copybook Practice Set. It is not independent editorial content. An illustrative story based on experiences parents share.
Sources
- Dauch, C., Imwalle, M., Ocasio, B., and Metz, A. E. (2018). The influence of the number of toys in the environment on toddlers' play. Infant Behavior and Development, 50.