Easels provide a unique sensory experience for preschoolers. Painting on an easel is a different experience than sitting at a desk. Chalkboard easels allow the child to experience making marks they can instantly erase and a white board easel lets preschoolers use smooth markers to practice letters and numbers.
Preschoolers work on their social skills when easels are set up side by side or back to back. They must maintain personal space and control their movements in order to work within the group dynamic. Working together at a double sided easel creates a sense of partnership that may not be felt if the same students were seated near each other at desks.
Physically, easels work both large and small muscles. Preschoolers are still developing their motor skills. Generally, children develop their large muscles first, followed by small muscles and hand-eye coordination. Antsy children who do not like to sit for very long will appreciate the extra work involved in standing while participating in class.
Constant problem solving challenges preschoolers to develop cognitively. While listening to the teacher, they process the different steps and train their hand to follow the instructions. They discover through doing how to keep paint from dripping and how to make the marks that turn into the picture, letters or shapes they desire.