When you've got a budding Picasso on your hands, a drawing mat is a wonderful tool to help them unlock their creative potential and pave the way for endless hours of artsy fun. Of course, not all drawing mats are created equal. Ideally, your mat should be spacious enough to accommodate multiple kiddos, come with all necessary drawing tools, and be durable enough to last for dozens of drawing sessions. Here, we've rounded up the best drawing mats, so your kids can doodle again and again. Betheaces Drawing Mat Calling All Junior ArtistsThis drawing mat offers the perfect palette for your child's masterpiece. Best OverallFind on Amazon Kids can doodle the day away on Betheaces’ drawing mat. It’s roomy enough for multiple children to use but still folds up neatly into a compact pouch when they’re done. This mat is made from water-resistant, non-toxic nylon that’s durable enough to withstand years of drawing sessions, and it’s simple and fun to use. All you have to do is fill the pen with clean water, and kids can start drawing on the mat. Plus, it comes with stencils, shapes, and letters, so kids can get creatively inspired while brushing up on their fundamentals. When it comes to sizing, portability, durability, and performance, this mat wins out. Pros: Made of high-quality, non-toxic materials The marks disappear after a few minutes, so kids can keep drawing new pictures Can be folded up into a compact size, so you can take it with you on the go Comes with an introduction of basic shapes and line-drawing methods Cons: Be sure to let this mat dry thoroughly before you put it away to avoid mold growth Zen Laboratory Doodle Mat Doodle in the DarkUnlike others, this mat boasts glow-in-the-dark technology, so kids can create at night. Best Glow In The DarkFind on Amazon We have yet to meet a kid who doesn’t enjoy things that glow in the dark, and we haven’t grown out of it ourselves. The Zen Laboratory Doodle Mat features glow-in-the-dark capability, so kids can create their best artistic work even when it’s starting to get dark out. Handily, this mat comes with a host of accessories, too, including flashlight pens, stencils, sea creature templates, and more. All you need is a little water to activate the colorful drawing surface, and then the fun can begin. Pros: Made with specialized glow-in-the-dark technology Package comes with four magic pens, flashlight pens, stencils, a drawing booklet, and more Multi-sensory No ink or paint required Cons: On the pricey end of the spectrum Free to Fly Drawing Mat Let Your Imagination SoarAll it takes is your creativity and a little water to draw on this mat.Also GreatFind on Amazon The Free to Fly Drawing Mat provides a fabulous canvas for all your child’s artistic dreams. This dinosaur-patterned mat helps save on paper and reduce the chance of messes since all the doodles and marks magically disappear after just a few minutes — no ink, chemicals, or toxic materials necessary. Plus, it comes with pens, brushes, and stencils, so children have everything they need to draw at their disposal. Pros: Comes with magic pens, a drawing mold, a drawing booklet, and even a drawing template Materials are non-toxic Suitable for kids of all ages Fun dinosaur pattern and stencils Cons: Colors aren’t quite as vibrant as they appear in pictures GTurtle Drawing Mat Ideal for GroupsIf you've got a gaggle of kiddos on your hands, this mat is the best.Best Extra-Large SizeFind on Amazon More spacious than other drawing mats, the GTurtle Drawing Mat is ideal for groups of kids since it can accommodate several little ones without ripping, tearing, or getting damaged. Although it’s sizable, this mat folds up into a compact square when you’re finished using it, so it’s fully portable and able to be used indoors or outdoors. There’s also plenty of white space alongside the shape templates and designs, so kids can choose to draw their own creations. Pros: Mat is bigger than most options The material on the back of the mat is nylon, so you can easily fold it up Convenient to carry around Made of soft polyester materials Large area of white space for kids to create open-ended designs Comes with a drawing booklet Cons: The packaging could stand to be improved Jasonwell Doodle Mat Everything a Little Artist NeedsSeriously, what doesn't this drawing mat come with?Best Extra Accessories Find on Amazon The Jasonwell Doodle Mat comes with a wide variety of drawing tools and accessories, and kids will have a blast using them all. They can use the design booklet for inspiration, make shapes and creations with the stamps and drawing molds, and doodle away with the magic pens. This mat is also made without chemicals or toxic materials, folds up for easy storage, and is even printed with neat lettering on the side for kids who want to practice their alphabet. Pros: Comes with more accessories than most, including magic pens, a design booklet, drawing molds, a drawing template, a storage box, and even stamps Waterproof backing Printed with alphabet letters and numbers so that kids can learn as well as draw You can attach this mat to a wall or window using the suction cups it comes with Cons: It would be nice if kids had more white space to draw on Frequently Asked Questions How does a drawing mat work? Water drawing mats are made with hydrochromic ink that becomes visible when activated with water. When it dries, it becomes invisible, which means that kids can keep drawing for as long as they like, with their artwork lasting for just a few minutes. What’s the best age to give my child a drawing mat? Most drawing mats are for children from 3 to 10 years old. Older kids may want to move on to more permanent forms of art, while younger ones might not get the hang of it yet. Related posts: The Best Dog Mats The Best Dog Bowl Mats The Best Dog Bowl Mats