Best Arts and Crafts Toys for Kids to Support Creativity & Learning
Arts and crafts aren’t just about making something pretty, they’re a wonderful way for children to express themselves and try out new ideas. Creative activities give children the chance to experiment, make mistakes and feel proud of what they create, all while quietly building important skills. From fine motor control and problem solving to confidence and even emotional regulation, the benefits are many.
Whether your child loves painting, drawing, or simply tinkering with different materials, we’ve rounded up some of the best arts and crafts toys that combine fun, learning and hands-on exploration…
My First – Fingerprint Set
A perfect first art kit for little hands, this set includes tubs of hypoallergenic, washable paint and 10 fun animal pictures for little ones to fill with colour. Children can carefully print with their fingers, mix colours, or dive into full hand painting for a fun sensory experience. A great rainy day activity that encourages creativity and helps develop strength in the hands.
Crayola Create and Play App
A colourful and engaging app that sparks creativity and supports early learning over a wide range of topics, Crayola Create and Play gives children a safe, interactive space to explore art and problem solving through play. With hundreds of colouring pages, drawing activities, pixel and glow art, children can experiment with virtual crayons and paints that behave just like the real thing – great for encouraging imagination and artistic confidence.
Explorer Craft
The GALT Explorer Craft kit is perfect for curious children who want to experiment with different materials and techniques. From painting and sculpting to collage making, the set provides a wide variety of creative tools in one box. Children can follow guided projects or explore freely, making it suitable for both structured and imaginative play.
Happy Lessons in a Box
A lovely set for helping children to learn the skills they need to create their own masterpiece! This all-in-one kit includes brushes, paints, canvases, a comic-style instruction book and even a video tutorial. Children can follow simple steps to create a variety of outdoor scenes while learning real painting techniques along the way.
National Geographic River Rock Craft Kit
Turn rocks into colourful creations! With paints, stickers and googly eyes, children can design anything from bright patterns to quirky characters. The accompanying guidebook includes step-by-step design ideas plus story stone activities to spark imaginative play. A creative, hands-on activity that will keep children busy while giving them a real sense of pride in their finished masterpieces.
JUNKO Zoomer! Kit
The JUNKO Zoomer! Kit combines science and art, giving children the chance to build, paint, and decorate their own motorised creations. As they bring their ideas to life, they explore STEM principles while also developing artistic skills and creative confidence; all with the added bonus of making something unique they can actually play with!
DIY Woodlands Fox My Felt Bag
This charming craft kit allows children to stitch and decorate their very own fox themed felt bag. With pre-cut pieces and simple instructions, it introduces sewing in a fun, accessible way, helping children practice fine motor skills and patience while creating something they can proudly use afterwards.
Tips for Parents
- Set up a dedicated space: having a creative corner, if possible, encourages regular crafting without worrying about mess.
- Join in: children learn by watching and copying, and crafting together can strengthen bonds.
- Mix guided and open ended activities: some projects help teach children to follow instructions, while others allow imaginations to run free.
- Celebrate creativity, not perfection: praise effort, experimentation and original ideas rather than focusing on flawless results.