Easel: 2 Boards
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
A height adjustable easel with a board on each side, so two children work at once without either of them being the one waiting. That is most of its value: painting is a long activity, and a single-sided easel turns a class of twenty into a queue. Paper is held with clamps or tape, and a canvas can rest on the tray instead. Height adjustment means the same easel serves a three year old and a six year old in the same room. Plywood with metal hardware, 55 x 59 x 142 cm.
“Education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment.”
The double-sided standing easel creates a vertical workspace that fundamentally changes how children interact with drawing, painting, and writing activities. This A-frame design allows two children to work simultaneously on opposite boards, fostering parallel play and social awareness without requiring direct interaction.
- Develops shoulder stability and arm strength through vertical mark-making
- Enhances bilateral coordination when reaching across large surfaces
- Builds social awareness through parallel work opportunities
- Strengthens visual-motor integration with standing posture
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The adjustable height settings ensure the easel grows with children from ages 3-6, maintaining ergonomic positioning that strengthens shoulder girdle muscles essential for refined hand control. The integrated storage tray teaches children to organize their materials independently, while the vertical surface demands different motor planning than table work. Standing at the easel engages core muscles and promotes bilateral coordination as children reach across the board's expanse. The two-board configuration transforms artistic expression from solitary activity into potential collaboration, where children naturally observe peers' techniques and share materials from the central tray. This vertical orientation particularly benefits left-to-right tracking skills crucial for reading readiness, as children's arm movements naturally follow this pattern when working at shoulder height.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Position the easel in an area with good natural light and enough space for children to move freely on both sides. Adjust height so the board's center aligns with children's chest level. Stock the storage tray with appropriate materials: chalk, erasers, paper clips for securing paper.
- 1
Demonstrate how to clip paper to the board, starting at top corners and smoothing downward
Let children practice clipping and removing paper independently before introducing drawing materials - 2
Show proper stance: feet hip-width apart, standing arm's length from the board
Mark floor positions with tape initially to help children find optimal distance - 3
Model large arm movements for drawing, emphasizing shoulder-initiated strokes
Begin with dry materials like chalk before introducing wet media - 4
Practice returning materials to the storage tray after each use
Create a visual inventory card showing where each item belongs
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
AMI approved
To the association standard
Easel: 2 Boards
