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EmilyC
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I've been reading the Waldorf threads with interest, and I am loving the idea of Waldorf. I decided to do a little bit with the main lesson books, and more art stuff since my kids draw all day anyway.
My question is, does it have to be beeswax crayons? Maybe I'm cheap, but I just cannot bring myself to spend so much for crayons. We typically go through a box of crayons every few weeks, so I'm not sure it would be worth the money for fancier crayons. Or do they last longer?
Why beeswax? What makes them special?
Thanks!
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Genevieve
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They blend better. Try this little experiment. Use whatever crayons you have. Pick a two primary color and try to overlap them over a piece of paper. Do they blend into a secondary color. My crayolas didn't do that great a job. Beewax crayons also leave less white on the paper. Here's the effects you could use with Beewax crayons More on other applications here. Bottom line you can create a Main Lesson Book with whatever art materials you have but the result will differ with different art materials. 
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KackyK
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I bit the bullet (is that the saying??) and bought the beeswax crayons...we go through a ton of crayola around...the dc are always snapping them! Anyways we went to the apple orchard last week and when we got home they each were to pick an apple to draw/color in their nature journals. My more artistic son made an incredible McIntosh apple, blending the green and red (ofcourse his artisitic self used the brown and yellow and another shade too)...but there was a BIG difference...he really liked them. And I think this blending...made the other dc get really into their pictures too...they all did wonderfully!
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chicken lady
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They are more expensive and I hear your concern. The more you read about Waldorf and Montessori the more you realize why the push for the true and beautiful. Children are very receptive to beauty in true form.
For me it is similar to when I have a new knitter. I ALWAYS spend time explaining and encourgaing the use of natural fibers. Yes they are more expensive, but the process is in itself a beautiful experience when working with the non plastic yarns. The end product is one that you are proud of and will treasure for years. I am a thrift shop addict, and I can tell you I have never seem a item hand knit with a natural fiber in a second hand store. I have seen countless acrylic afghans and doilies.
I hope you see my comparision, it is about the true, the beautiful, the good!
When we teach children at a young age to discern between the fake and real with tangible items, it becoms a natural flow to the spiritual world.
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teachingmyown
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The Timerdoodle catalog raves about the Prismacolor pencils and I was planning on buying some for Christmas. How would these compare to the beeswax crayons? Is there a reason to go with crayons over colored pencils?
Thanks.
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EmilyC
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Thanks! I bit the bullet, and bought a set of beeswax block crayons. I decided that the blocks would be sturdier, and if I'm spending that much, I want them to last! I am excited for them to come so we can try them out!
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Emily,
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cathhomeschool
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The beeswax crayons are wonderful. I had a chance to test both Stockmar and Stone crayons while at Elizabeth's house in August. They blend in a way that Crayolas cannot -- *especially* the Stone. They actually act a bit like oil pastels in the way that you can blend them with your fingers. (I am finally ordering some this week, and am trying to decide whether or not to order modeling beeswax too. Any opinions?)
The beeswax crayons are very different from Prismacolor pencils. The Prismacolor are much better than Crayola colored pencils, and we do use them for artwork (while we use crayola pencils for everyday stuff), but they don't blend (smudge) like the crayons do.
Going for crayons over pencils? I would get both, but that's just me. There's a "softness" that is easier to achieve with the crayons, but my kids prefer colored pencils at times too (like when they are coloring pictures from Dover coloring books).
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teachingmyown
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Thanks for the explanation! I guess I will put both on the list.
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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kjohnson
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teachingmyown wrote:
The Timerdoodle catalog raves about the Prismacolor pencils and I was planning on buying some for Christmas. How would these compare to the beeswax crayons? Is there a reason to go with crayons over colored pencils?
Thanks. |
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We have used Prismacolors for quite some time, but have recently discovered Lyra Pencils. As the other ladies have already mentioned, the beeswax crayons blend beautifully. I don't think I would choose between the crayons or pencils. They are different mediums. But I will say that I think it has been well worth the extra money. Having the opportunity to use quality materials is such a wonderful experience.
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Katherine
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Elizabeth
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I much prefer the Lyra pencils to Prismacolor and I've been a frequent buyer of Prismacolor at Timberdoodle for years.
The Stone crayons are softer than the Stockmar so they blend more easily. But they might be too soft as they break more easily too.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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~Rachel~
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We have the crayons (block) to cover more page (less frustrating) as the Prismacolor (which are wonderful) are much better for detail stuff
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teachingmyown
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One more crayon question:
Block or stick? And why?
My shopping cart at A Child's Dream is waiting! 
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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~Rachel~
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We use block because for what sticks do we find the pencils better. Block allows you to cover the page much faster.
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EmilyC
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I debated over whether we should get block or stick crayons, but ultimately decided on the block. My reasoning was that if I was spending so much on crayons, I wanted to get the sturdiest ones I could. Also, they look completely different from our cheap crayola crayons, and I thought that would make it easier to care for them--they'd be less likely to mix them up. So far the boys are very careful with their beeswax crayons.
Also, I liked that the block crayons make it so much easier to cover the whole page with color.
HTH!
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Emily,
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BrendaPeter
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We've also used Prismacolor for years and really do like the Lyra a little better too.
We bought the block crayons as well & love these. I would love to get the stick crayons but I did that last Christmas & my girls were always dropping them on the wood floor so unfortunately they broke  . We're using the twistable crayons until they're a little older.
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dollylima
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We use the block crayons to make guidelines for writing. They have different-sized edges that are good for different jobs. We moved to stick crayons and colored pencils ("big kids" use those!) for second grade.
The block crayons are easier for littler (nursery to first grade) hands.
I have made my son a corduroy roll-up crayon holder that holds both his block and stick crayons, a side for each, but if you are storing the blocks where they rub up against each other, just a helpful hint: they can be cleaned by rubbing with mineral oil. Little ones can do this with no difficulty and it is quite a gratifying task.
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CandaceC
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Ok, I think I may get some of these for Christmas gifts. Where is the best place to get them? ie...the cheapest place to get the best quality ones you all are describing?
Thank you!
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folklaur
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So, I went to Paper Scissors Stone and A Child's Dream about a dozen times over the last few weeks. Kept thinking, "Could these crayons really be that much different than crayola? Really? And $10? For crayons????"
But I was able to get a set of the Stockmar Block crayons.
Different than crayola? Oh, my, yes.
Now I can start asking myself the same questions about the colored pencils, and the watercolors... 
Smiles,
~Laura in AZ
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dollylima
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cactus -- you may be happy to hear that ebay often has these items available at a small discount -- often with the "but it now" feature.
Happy coloring! :-)
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Beeswax crayons?
