The ONP Infant Art Easel uses a clear acrylic panel. Both sides of the panel are paintable - with finger paints, window markers, and water-based paints. And because the panel is transparent, two infants or young toddlers working on opposite sides of the easel can see each other through the surface they are both painting on. That particular interaction - two children, one panel, each watching the other's marks appear from the opposite side - is something that happens only with this type of easel. It is not replicated by any chalkboard, whiteboard, or paper-based outdoor art station.
The cedar frame is proportioned for children aged 6 to 18 months to reach and mark without needing to be lifted or supported. The overall height is dramatically lower than the 48"H preschool easel, correctly positioning the acrylic surface within the reach of a standing young toddler, a child cruising along a surface, or an infant supported in standing. The cedar frame requires no staining, resists rot and insects, lasts 15 to 20 years outdoors, and ships fully assembled - place it outdoors and it is ready to use. It is lightweight enough for an adult to move around an outdoor play area between sessions, and sturdy enough that toddlers cannot move it themselves. Available across North America, it is the only outdoor cedar art easel with a transparent acrylic panel at infant height in the Canadian early years market.
Key Features of the ONP Infant Art Easel
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Dual-Sided Clear Acrylic Panel - Both sides of the transparent acrylic panel accept finger paints, window markers, and water-based paints; marks made on one side are visible from the other, creating the unique social and visual interaction that is only possible with a see-through easel surface
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See-Through Design Supports Face-to-Face Social Interaction - Two children working on opposite sides of the panel can see each other through the surface, generating the eye contact, shared attention, and social referencing that are among the most developmentally significant interactive experiences for infants and young toddlers
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Infant Height at 30.5"H Overall - The easel is proportioned for children aged 6 to 18 months - far lower than the 48"H preschool version - placing the acrylic surface within reach of standing young toddlers, children cruising along a support, and infants supported in standing without adult lifting or repositioning
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North American Cedar Frame - All-Weather Outdoor Use - Cedar requires no staining, resists rot and insects naturally, stays comfortable to touch in summer heat, and lasts 15 to 20 years outdoors; the natural material is free from chemical treatments and appropriate for the youngest children
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Lightweight for Adults, Stable for Infants - The frame is light enough for an educator or caregiver to move between different positions in an outdoor play space, while being stable enough that infants and toddlers cannot push or tip it during active art sessions
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Ships Fully Assembled - Arrives ready to use immediately; no setup time required in busy childcare settings or infant outdoor programmes
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39"L x 24"W x 30.5"H - Group-Scale at Infant Height - At 39 inches wide the easel accommodates two children working simultaneously, one on each side, making this a shared group art station rather than a single-user piece
Skills Developed Through ONP Infant Art Easel Play
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Visual Tracking & Early Visual Attention - The transparent panel attracts and sustains visual attention in a way that opaque surfaces do not; infants track marks appearing on the opposite side, develop visual tracking across the panel, and engage with the moving image of another child seen through the medium they are working on
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Fine Motor Coordination & Pre-Writing Readiness - Mark making on a vertical acrylic surface at the correct height engages the shoulder, arm, and wrist movements that directly develop the hand control and arm elevation needed for later writing; vertical easel work is a recognised pre-writing developmental activity and this easel provides it at infant height
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Tactile & Sensory Exploration - Finger painting and mark making on a smooth acrylic surface provides distinct tactile sensory input that differs from paper, fabric, or wooden surfaces; the combination of cool, smooth acrylic and water-based paint is a novel tactile experience that supports sensory integration and tactile tolerance
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Shared Attention & Early Social Interaction - The see-through design specifically generates the joint attention, social referencing, and face-to-face interaction that are foundational social milestones in the 6-to-18-month developmental window; two infants at opposite sides of the easel are in a uniquely socially prompted face-to-face interaction mediated by the marks they are making
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Creative Expression & Agency - Making a visible, lasting mark - even a simple handprint or smear - that persists on a surface and can be seen from both sides gives infants and young toddlers a concrete experience of creative agency: something changed because of what I did
Ideal for
- Infant rooms in childcare centres with outdoor play spaces building sensory and creative art stations
- Occupational therapists supporting fine motor, shoulder girdle development, visual tracking, and sensory integration for infants aged 6 to 18 months
- Forest school, nature-based, and outdoor learning programmes serving infants and young toddlers
- Montessori infant communities and Reggio-inspired settings where open-ended art media and natural materials are programme priorities
- Families with outdoor spaces wanting a permanent, all-weather cedar art station for their youngest child
- Any outdoor early years programme where a transparent, social, infant-height art surface is a developmental priority
