39 Best Toys to Inspire Future Makers, Artists, Designers and Innovators

Sometimes we can become overwhelmed by the sheer number of toys on the market and wonder just what are the best toys. Thankfully this list will direct you to toys that are intellectually stimulating, being full of arts and crafts, but that are also great value for money.

toys for creative kids

Kiwi Co. Subscription Box

Fancy receiving a fantastic crate of STEAM activities every month at a great price? Then Kiwico is for you. Every month there’s a fun package that will stimulate the scientist, designer, artist or innovator in your child. Educational, exciting, convenient and delivered straight to your door.

LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox Building and Coding Kit

We are all used to the quality of LEGO sets but this version has over 840 pieces, a LEGO move hub, interactive motor and a color and distance sensor. The move hub features Bluetooth connectivity and there are 5 different models to build making this one of the best toys Lego have produced.

$243.00

Stop Motion Claymation Kit

This creative Claymation kit allows a child to make clay models and then animate them via their smartphone. By making small changes to the models and then recording this, kids can make a great movie featuring their pre-made characters. A great toy for any budding movie makers out there.

Make Your Own Kaleidoscope Set

For creative kids, this exciting set will provide a challenge and also great satisfaction when they complete their kaleidoscope. The set comes with everything you need, from a cardboard tube through to adhesive paper and foil confetti, to produce your own unique work of art that spins dazzling webs of color.

Parker the Interactive Bear Patient

For the would be doctor in your house, this bear will be both a challenge and an adorable friend. Parker uses cutting edge technology to bring a child’s imagination to life as he takes on all forms of illness that they will have to diagnose and cure. A terrific augmented reality toy.

The Kid's Responsibility Board

If you want your kids to partake around the house then this responsibility board is a must have. This fun and interactive method of teaching kids positive life habits has a list of daily tasks on a chalkboard chart as well as a “Choose a chore “ bucket. The rewards come with chores completed.

Create Your Own Bath Bombs

Every kid loves the fizz and whizz of a bath bomb going around their tub but not many get to make their own. Now they can with this inventive set which contains a choice of two colors and three distinct scents, Citrus Paradise, Very Berry Fun and Lavender Essence.

Build Your Own Pinball Game

There’s nothing like banging the bumpers on the pinball machine and now you can construct your very own in the comfort of your home. This non-electronic and fully functional, rubber band powered version can be created and customized in about an hour and requires no tools.

Easy Weaving Loom

This handy loom has a design that makes hand weaving go at a pace, with its alternating pegs which twirl to create your pattern’s warp and weft stitching. All you have to do is to weave your yarn back and forth whilst switching the direction lever. Hand weaving takes a giant step forward.

LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box

LEGO has many distinct sets following cinema releases or genre types. However, this large brick brings back a simpler time when you just had to build from your own imagination with the bricks in front of you. There’s 484 pieces including windows, eyes, 18 tires and wheel rims, and a green baseplate.

$28.00

Color Your Own Map Pillowcase

This fun pillowcase allows your child to color it in one day and then, after passing through a normal wash, to draw all over it again. Included are fully washable colored fabric markers which bring alive this geographical masterpiece each night before bedtime. With global features marked on the map.

On-the-Go Art Set

Crafty kids are always ready to be creative and what better way to supply this need than to give them an on the go craft box. There’s 8 projects based on the works of greats such as Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe and Henri Matisse to inspire their creativity as they travel.

Yarn Unicorn Kit

This gorgeous craft set produces two magical unicorns by wrapping around cardboard forms of the mythical creatures. The finished animals come complete with rainbow hooves , manes, bridles, and glittery horns. A sweet craft project for any kid to try and a lovely finished project to keep.

LEGO Technic Display Team Jet Building Kit

These technical sets from LEGO are some of the best toys around and this one is no disappointment. Featuring a high tech, aerodynamic design with a large cockpit and retractable undercarriage, this aircraft also performs supersonic aerial manoeuvres. An immersive and rewarding building experience not to be missed.

Prices Vary

Optical Illusions Science Kit

Sometimes your mind plays tricks on you and with this fun set you can explore the how and why. There’s a DIY piggy bank that makes your money disappear, and special color spinners with hypnotizing powers included amongst many activities that will blow your mind from the outset.

Build Your Own Animal Kit

This instructive set will get your child looking at basic items in a whole new way as they learn to construct fun four legged friends from a motley pile of familiar hardware. There’s detailed instructions to follow that will help them understand how to upcycle any old piece of unused hardware or spare parts.

Eco Finger Paint

There’s nothing more fun than painting with your own fingers. But now you can do it with an eco-friendly set of paints that you mix up yourself and which come in 5 reusable pouches. The colors come from veggie and fruit extracts and are as bright as artificial dyes found in other paints.

Natural Face Paint Kit

These handmade face paints come from Ashland in Oregon and are organic and non-toxic. Inspired by how body paints were created thousands of years ago, this kit uses mineral based clay, shea butter and castor oil that’s additive free. Safe and clean painting and dressing up fun for your little ones.

Magic Show Kit

Kids love to stand out and with this magic show set they will be the talk of their neighbourhood as they perform tricks in front of their neighbours’ very eyes. There’s 6 included tricks, a special deck of cards, a companion booklet, scarf and wand, and a bonus book featuring magic history.

Gel and Slime Science Kit

This wicked science set has a theme of water gels and features such as the vanishing beads and the disappearing water. There’s also DIY projects to complete such as the bracelet made of water gel. With over a dozen activities, this is one packed set to choose.

Fairy Kit

This clever craft set will have your kids making fairy houses and clothes for the little people and will expand their imagination as they think of more things their smaller friends could want. From fairy doors to beds to the fairies themselves, this set has 8 welcome ideas to be tried.

Monster Slime Kit

This kit contains everything you need to make your own slime monster and even comes with a disposable apron to keep the young ones clean. The slime itself will keep fresh for up to two weeks if stored within the provided screw top container and comes with a full color monster story book.

Brainstrings

Originally developed by Dutch inventor Guido Lap, this elegant design is combined with an intellectually challenging concept to give you this fun game where you have to think inside the box. Don’t get knotted as you try to solve this great brain teasing puzzle for older children and adults.

Festive Animal Ukulele

Some of the best toys are often musical and this gorgeous little ukulele is no exception. With cheerful colors and adorable horses, this instrument is small enough for a child’s hand to grasp, press and strum. Designed in France, this ukulele is sure to bring a welcome introduction to the world of music.

Musical Pat Bells

These delightful little hand bells are a great introduction to the world of music for small hands who want to make a beautiful noise. Featuring 8 colorful bells, the notes of the bells are set to C major scale and have a handsome storage case to keep them safe when not in use.

Yarn Tree Kit

This clever craft kit will have your child creating a tree of their own made out of yarn. Ideal for a rainy day or maybe even a slumber party, the crafters will wrap the colorful yarn around the supplied 18 inch wire tree which can then be used to display trinkets or other ornaments.

Eco Stars Recycled Crayons

Let your child light up their world with these fantastic recycled eco stars made from the remaining ends of crayons. Handmade in Colorado, these delightful stars will give playtime a needed boost in terms of creativity and will excite young ones who will have their minds stimulated by these groovy designs.

Design Your Own Slime Kit

Slime is an ever present option these days for kids to enjoy but now they can make their own with these 5 clear putties which are ready for transformation. With other special effects putties included such as glow, sparkle and metalize effects, they are ready to send out crafty shockwaves to the world.

Financial Learning Ledger for Kids

Help kids to understand the value of money with this fun ledger that will keep track of their financial comings and goings. Made in Battle Creek in Michigan, this colorful ledger will help garner their interest in the financial world and begin them on their path to proper handing of money.

3D Hypotrochoid Art Set

This gorgeous set allows you to create stunning patterns based on mathematical principles without requiring any knowledge of the devices used. In the travel friendly tin are 2 stencils, 3 pens and 3D glasses which means you are set to draw your mathematical designs.

Mars Exploration Sand Kit

For kids interested in far off planets this set will be a delight. This sand experiment will show them how Mars is hydrophobic, in that it never gets wet, and with the included book they can learn lots of other groovy facts about the Red planet. There’s even a friendly alien to adopt.

WhatchamaDRAWit

This quick fire game will have friends and family diving for their pens and putting drawings onto paper. There’s a stack of 110 cards and a timer to keep everyone honest. Lots of fun for everyone with this interactive and fast game that’s bound to hold their attention.

Flipbook Kits

Flip books have been around for years but now they can be introduced to a new generation who can have the same fun we had when young. The kit contains 2 pre-drawn flipbooks and a blank one so you can create your own story. There’s also 4 non-toxic markers and 3 clips.

LEGO Classic Fun Future Building Kit

LEGO is known for providing some of the best toys around and this set is no exception. It features a mix of bright and colorful pieces to allow for open ended play and includes a special tile edition celebrating 60 years of LEGO brick. There’s also a special minifigure included in the pack.

$29.99

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Toy House

This fun dolls house is made from lightweight EVA foam and high quality card stock and the house and furniture pieces fit together easily like a 3D puzzle. The set recalls the tale of Goldilocks and the three bears but the side of the toy house folds in half to make a swimming pool.

Pixlplay Smartphone Camera

This fun camera combines an old style look with all the modern features so that your budding photographer can take the world by storm. The design allows a place to slide an old Apple or Android phone into the back to use with the Pixelplay app.

Cardboard Tool Kit

We all end up with plenty of cardboard but with this handy set we’ll be able to use that redundant card to make nifty craft ideas. There’s a safe saw included in the package and 28 reusable plastic “Scrus” for fastening cardboard, as well as a Scru-Driver to help build your constructions.

LEGO Creator Robo Explorer Robot Toy

This clever LEGO toy allows your child to build 3 different constructions including a robot, a bird and a dog. Featuring bright green eyes, working tracks, a rotating body and head, and poseable arms with a working claw and searchlight, this is one toy that is sure to please.

$59.89

Mr. Food Face Plate

Make dinner time a fun time with this cheeky plate that will send your kids wild with laughter. Made from food safe ceramic, the plate will reproduce fun moments time and again at every meal. Inspired by the beloved Wooly Willy, the fun children’s toy.

3 Artsy Diy Ideas and Activities

Diy Edible Starburst Slime

This impressive blog will show you how to take the child’s slime craze to the next level by making it edible. Using Starbursts, this detailed blog will let you get the hang of this and other recipes with which to entertain, feed and wow your delighted kids.

Diy Kid's Art Display Ikea Hack

Learn how to make an art box to store and show off your child’s creations with this exciting blog. By following the detailed steps in this post, you’ll be able to impress your child with their new found storage box that will smartly show off their work.

Diy Easy Chalk Art Inspired by Van Gogh

Learn how to do this fun art activity with your child by following the blog and commenting on anything you want to know. By use of careful photographs, this blog will show you how to teach your child about Vincent van Gog and chalks at the same time.