These art-encouraging toys range from paper craft puppets to building blocks that feature customizable chalkboard faces. These products don't only encourage creativity but are also fun for all ages. As DIY crafts and art activity kits grow more popular among parents, retailers' focus on anti-tech toys is also prevalent.
While tech-fuelled toys are a natural progression for many manufacturers, others are rebelling and are reviving classic activity sets that require nothing more than some creative tools and some imagination.
Standouts include high tech art toys -- a 3D-printed butterfly figurine that can be customized and colored in by kids -- and responsible kite kits that are not only artistic but also sustainable in their design. Overall, these art-encouraging toys blend education with fun and make playtime more meaningful for growing minds.
25 Art-Encouraging Toys
33
Crafty Marker Scissors
The ColorCutter ShapeShark Transforms Doodles into Creative Cutouts
32
Girl Construction Toys
GoldieBlox and The Builder's Survival Kit Teaches Important Skills
31
Kid Art Jewelry
Etsy Shop CaitlynMinimalist Turns Children's Drawings into Pendents
30
Toy Inventor Apps
Make Toys with Autodesk's 3D-Printing Tinkerplay App
29
Paper Ice Cream Playsets
Mr. Printables' No-Mess Paper Popsicle & Ice Cream Toys Won't Melt
28
Kid-Friendly Design Books
This Children's Art Book is Designed to Teach Readers About Color
27
Spray Chalk Cans
This Non-Toxic Spray Chalk Paint Washes Off with Soap and Water
26
Artistry Teaching Toys
The Dora the Explorer Trace and Learn Projector Teaches Art Basics
25
Educational Craft Subscriptions
Green Kid Crafts' Activity Boxes Gift Smarts & Sustainability
24
Responsible Kite Packaging
Lily Li's Versatile Design Can be Repurposed as Storage and Supplies
23
Bathtub Artist Kits
ALEX Toy's Paint in the Tub Playset Makes for an Easy Clean Up
22
Pop-Up Paper Toys
These Fun Foldable Paper Toys Can Be Customized with Color
21
Craft-Containing Cans
The Creativity Can Lets Kids Get Imaginative With Less Structure in Place
20
Deliciously Scented Pencils
Sketch and Sniff Colored Pencils Look and Smell Amazing
19
Whimsical Paper Playsets
This Paper Craft for Kids Inspires Kids to Create Dreamy Cloud Cities
18
Kids Textured Painting Kits
This Painting Kit is Created for the Young Artist Pushing Boundaries
17
Doodle-Friendly Home Decor
This Collection Includes a Canvas Table, Draw-On Pillows and Aprons
16
DIY Paper Box Puppets
Turn an Ordinary Pasta Box into a Fun Children's Toy with This Tutorial
15
Paper Craft Kids Costumes
These Paper Costumes by ‘Cox & Cox’ are Great Alternatives
14
Hi-Tech Artsy Toys
This Mechanical Butterfly Was Designed to Be Decorated by the Child
13
AR Coloring Book Apps
The Chromville Augmented Reality Learning App Brings Drawings to Life
12
Halloween Coloring Projects
The Haunted Haus by Moses Knows is a Three-Dimensional Activity
11
Coloring Book Tablets
The Griffin LightBoard Lets Kids Trace Pictures Displayed on the iPad
10
Anti-Mess Glitter Toys
The Melissa & Doug Mess-Free Glitter Foam Stickers Require Zero Cleanup
9
Monster-Shaped Crayons
These 3D-Printed Crayons for Kids Benefit Abused & Neglected Children
8
Paper Medieval Toys
The Kingdom Kit by Hadar Kimchy is Made for Fantasy Fans
7
DIY Paper Doll Crafts
Mr Printables Features Paper-Made Cone Girl Designs
6
Toy Chalkboard Cubes
The Naef 'Colorem' Allows Your Children to Build Creative Skills
5
Doodle-Encouraging Frames
The Vandalijst Invites You to Scribble on Pictures for Fun
4
Child-Friendly 3D Pens
The 3Doodler Start is a Safer 3D Pen Designed For Children
3
Spin Art Activity Kits
Toys R Us' Creates an Imaginative Toy for Hands-On Play
2
Adorable DIY Music Makers
Create a Pitch Perfect Pair of Drums in Just a Few Simple Steps
1
Washable Coloring Mats
This Reusable Mat Includes Washable Markers
Related Ideas
Iconic Artwork Toy Sets
The LEGO Art Mona Lisa Set Pays Homage to the Masterpiece
Sustainable Lightweight Cat Toys
A Team of Designers Create the Pet-Friendly Cat Box
Screenless Learning Wands
The Kinoo Magic Wand is for Independent & Family Play
Meditative Screen-Free Toys
Calm Tonie Shares Mindfulness Activities & Breathwork for Kids
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
Playful Thermal Printer Cameras
The Children’s Print Camera by Koool Design is Easy to Use
Color-In Photo Cameras
The 'Potto' Toy Camera Concept Encourages Kids to Color in Prints
Imaginative Soft Toys
Blabla's Little Monster Soft Toys Promote Listening, Curiosity and Dreams
Pre-Teen Makeup Brands
Princess by Renee Encourages Creativity & Self-Expression
Witty Toy-Brand Horror Posters
LEGO Presents a Range of Playful Horror Posters for the Season
Eco-Friendly Racing Toys
VTech's Turbo Edge Riders Inspires Racing and Recycling
Educational Climate Change Toys
The 'Habitat' Educational Toy Brick Sets Come in Two Options
Eco-Friendly Bath Essentials
Bebo Seeks to Reimagine the Packaging of Kid's Bath Products
Furniture Waste-Made Toys
ÉCAL Students Redefine What a Sustainable Toy Is
Creative STEM-Based Toys
JitteryGit's Educational STEM Toys Foster Creativity in Kids
Interactive Creativity Home Displays
The 'Doodle' Interactive Wall by Hyungwoo Lee is Immersive
Technical Education Car Toys
The Conceptual 'GoCar' Helps Kids Learn to Code Autonomous Vehicles
Playful Modular Mops
Staff and Clorox Created a Colorful Wet Mop with Rubber Hat Topper
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Multisensory Oven Playsets
Cookeez Makery Helps Kids Create a Sweetly Scented Best Friend
Adult-Focused Modeling Dough
Hasbro Revamps its Classic Scented Play-Doh for the Kidult Market
Buildable Marble Mazes
The LEGO Magic Maze is a Challenging, Skill-Building Tabletop Game
Sustainable Sensorial Play Pads
The Stokke PlayPad by Marius Kindler Adapts to Growing Children
Introductory STEM Toy Sets
The Zig & Go from Djeco Combines Music and Forces in an Educational Toy
Online Creative Course Platforms
Coursera Partnered with Illinois on an Online 3D Printing Course
Playful Coding Pets
Pyxel Helps Kids Program Actions, Expressions, Tricks & Sounds
Interactive Sensory Tables
The Fisher-Price Sensory Bright Light Station Offers Six Play Modes
Tetrahedral Desk Puzzles
Revision Designs The Tetra Desk Toy for Craighill
Nature-Inspired Pet Toys
A Team of Designers Create the Unique Triangle Toy for Pets
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Adorable Organic Stuffed Animals
Estella Boasts a Range of Eye-catching Handmade Toys
Interactive Puppy Playsets
Moose Toys' My Puppy's Home Helps Kids Prepare to Bring Home a Puppy
AI-Enhanced STEM Toys
The Kidx Classbox Fuses Montessori Methods with NFC Tech & AI
Tactile AI Toolkits
Zhaodi Feng Has Designed a Unique Toolkit Named 'Promptac'
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
Gen Z Crafting Events
Red Heart Hosted an Exclusive "Crafternoon" in NYC
AI-Powered Plushies
Curio and Grimes are Collaborating on Artificial Intelligence Toys
Space-Exploring STEAM Toys
LeapFrog's Magic Adventures™ Line Arrives for Kids Five and Up
Travel-Inspired Toy Catalogs
The Tennessee Playcation Catalog Shares the Joy of Travel
Combination Building Block Toys
The 'QUBTRIX' Omni-Compatible Wooden Bricks Work with Other Toys
Artwork-Inspired Building Block Kits
The LEGO Hokusai – The Great Wave Kit is Detailed
Adult-Only Building Block Events
Lego Late Sessions Combine Building Activities & Entertainment
Kid-Focused Mindful Activity Books
Wild Chakra Boassts the Kids' Mindful Coloring & Activity Book
Multi-Benefit Enrichment Toys
The Pupsicle by Wood is a Nourishing, Stimulating Treat for Dogs
Digital Magnetic Toy Models
The Tenki Spliced Magnetic Attraction Toy is Educational
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Painterly Air Purifiers
Airmega 250 ART x Hailyhills Purifiers Clean Homes in an Artful Way
Vibrant Bird-Inspired Artful Puzzles
LEGO Adds the Macaw Parrots Kit to the Fauna Series
Empathy-Building Play Programs
The Barbie School of Friendship Helps Kids Develop Social Skills
Autonomous Vehicle Kits
This Kit Teaches Kids How AI is Changing Transportation Dynamics
Kid-Friendly Tech Frames
myFirst Recently Unveiled Two New Digital Frames
Transforming Imaginative Furniture Designs
The Kiddie Couch Encourages a Sense of Play
Kid-Designed Sculptural Furniture
Art Gallery Galerie Philia Engages Children with Design-Thinking
Self-Esteem Promoting Plushies
Bigfoot Kin Teaches Children How to Love Themselves
Dog-Friendly Board Games
The Dog’s Best Friend Game Incorporates Enrichment and Training
Ergonomic Dog Toys
Earth Rated's Debut Dog Toy Collection is Durable, Stimulating & Safe
Storytelling Projector Toys
Moonlite Projects Stories With Added Music and Sounds
Big Apple Toy Blocks
These Machi Town (New York) Blocks by kiko+ Encourage Creative Play
DIY Candy Jewelry Kits
Cricket's Candy Creations Boasts the Candy Jewelry Craft Kit
Experiment-Based Playsets
Moose Toys' Beast Lab Reinvigorates Action Figure Category
Calming Stacking Stone Toys
The Calm Club Relaxing Wooden Stacking Stones are Soothing
Play-Based Learning Collections
Staples Launches the Curated Kids Learn + Play Collection
Gen Alpha Creativity Workshops
The LEGO Group Launched Free Creativity Workshops for Ages 6-12
Forest-Inspired Screenless Toys
Boogie Board Launched the Sketch Pals Forest Friends Line
Timber Tech-Packed Dolls
These teenage engineering Wooden Dolls Come in Eight Varieties
Nature-Inspired Indoor Playgrounds
Sarit Shani Hay Designs a New Playground in Tel Aviv
Fuzzy Musical Collectibles
Furblets are Interactive Toys That Introduce Furby to a New Generation
Buildable Paper Playsets
Playper's Curious Kingdom: Castle Playset Encourages Creativity
Kid-Friendly Telescopes
The LeapFrog Magic Adventures Telescope Shares Images Taken by NASA
STEM Holiday Shops
CircuitMess' Holiday Gift Shop Has Presents That Teach Coding & Creative Design
Art-Focused STEAM Kits
Robot in a Can Helps Build STEAM Skills Through Art and Design Education
Pixelated Tile Toy Sets
The 'VOXART' Click Tile Construction Set is Easy to Build and Customize
Playful Kid-Friendly Baking Kits
Make Bake Stands Out with Its Edible Stickers for Baking
Family-Focused Learning Toys
Chick-fil-A Debuts a Family Game Brand to Inspire Family Playtime
DIY Squishy Collectibles
An Elmer's Squishies Kit Creates Customized Surprise Toys
Toy Block-Inspired Wooden Bookshelves
Waiting Woood Designs the New Rotating Picture Book Rack
Interactive Windmill Toys
HABA's Kullerbu Windmill 25 Piece Starter Track Set is Hands-On
Coding Education Car Toys
The TPBot Smart Coding Car Works with Building Blocks
Smart Sensory Toys
Peel&Play Has Interlocking Pieces That Can Be Peeled & Rebuilt
Playful Interactive Galleries
PLAY by American Express Platinum Reimagines Toys as Art Pieces
Discarded Toys-Created Homes
Wallmakers Designs the Toy Storey Home with Repurposed Toys
GenAI Bedtime Stories
SmartDreams Uses AI to Help Kids Craft Their Own Stories
Toy Brick-Inspired Studios
Sukchulmok Designs the Curving Block Photography Studio
Gen Alpha Draw-Along Series
Crayola Partners with WildBrain Spark to Launch Scribble Scrubbie Pets
Toy Block-Inspired Furniture
The Bloc Collection by From: C is Inspired by Nostalgic Elements
90s Toy Holiday Trees
Furbtrees are Introducing the Next Generation of Furby Across the UK
Toy-Specific Storage Systems
Step2 Debuts a Toy Storage Box for Developing Organizational Skills
Visually Impaired Puzzle Blocks
LEGO Presents Braille Bricks for an Inclusive Playing
Cognitive Toy Subscriptions
Lovevery is a Subscription that Delivers Developmental Toys to Kids
Abstract Art Block-Puzzle Sets
LEGO Introduces a New Colorful 31210 Modern Art Set
Wish-Making Lantern Collectibles
Lil Wish Lanterns Activate Imagination Through Positivity & Play
STEM Subscription Crates
KiwiCo's STEM Subscription Crates Equip Children with Valuable Skills
Kid-Targeted Holiday Bundles
Storypod Boasts Three Holiday Bundles for Kids
Recycled Plastic Writing Utensils
The 'PENTAPA' Mechanical Drop Pencil is Cleverly Designed
Magnetic Building Blocks
'The NIA' Launched 'Magnecraft' EVA Foam Magnetic Blocks on Kickstarter
Natural Scavenger Hunt Toys
Craft-tastic Nature: Scavenger Hunt Potions Inspire Play in Nature
Life-Size In-Store Countdowns
Toys R Us Asia and Craig & Karl Created an Advent Calendar for All
Reprogrammable Robot Companions
Quarky Teaches Kids AI, Robotics and Programming Through Play
Insect Habitat Toys
Smart Lab Toys' Insect Inspector Lab Bug Playground Encourages STEM Learning
ASMR-Inspired Soothing Toys
These Sensory Motion Bubblers Visually Create Calm
Youth-Focused Architectural Toys
The Freckled Frog's 'Happy Architect' Toy is for Curious Youth
Hand-Knit Finger Puppets
Blabla's Finger Puppet Mushrooms are Sold in a 5-Piece Set
Magnetic Building Tiles
'Magna-Tiles' are Magnetic Building Sets That Promote STEM Concepts
Baby-Focused Learning Toys
Matchstick Monkey's Playtime Toys Help Babies Develop Fine Motor Skills
Play-Inspiring Workshops
LEGO is Sharing a Free Workshop Series Featuring Renowned Creatives
Bilingual Baby Toys
Bebé Fuerte Explores Movement as Play
DIY Robotics Toys
The WindBots from Thames & Kosmos are Intricate Learning Toys
Braille Building Blocks
LEGO's Play with Braille Bricks Teach Kids with Visual Impairments to Read
Dream-Inspired Building Toys
Lego Dreamzzz Encourages Kids to Build with Their Imagination
Mess-Free Eco Craft Kits
Brainstorm's Create N Colour Let Kids Magically Paint with Water
STEM Excavation Kits
Thames & Kosmos' 'Jurassic World Dinosaur Dig' Lets Kids Be a Paleontologist
Origami-Inspired Playful Magnetic Blocks
Artur Tikhonenko Designs the Trido Building Blocks
Multifunctional Building Planks
'KEVA Planks' are Diverse Building Toys for All Ages
Child-Friendly Knife Sets
Little Kitchen Academy's Progressive Knife Set Instils Confidence
Phygital Kids Board Games
Playshifu's New 'Tacto' Board Game Combines AR with Physical Figurines
Clothespin-Inspired Mechanical Pencils
The PENTAPA is Created Entirely from Recycled Plastic
Creativity-Celebrating Week-Long Campaigns
Crayola Education Will Kick Off Crayola Creativity Week
Bean-Shaped Vibrant Chalks
Areaware Presents the Colorful New Bean Chalks for Imaginative Drawing
Active Entertainment Systems
Nex Playground Gets People Moving at Home
Sensory Musical Farm Bands
MEGA Bloks Introduces the New Sensory Musical Farm Band
Smart Fidget Toys
TapTap is for Ages Five to 105 and It Offers Benefits for All
Stone-Like Supportive Toys
Play Maker Stapelstein Expands to the American Market
Adult Board Game Campaigns
Hasbro and Ageless Innovation Rebrand Childhood Games for Adults
Personalized Child Education Apps
Sandbox Group Launches the PlayKids+ Application for Ages 2-12
Life-Sized Toy Construction Sets
The Funphix' 'Standard' is an Educational Outdoor Playset
Creativity-Supporting Art Apps
The 'Blank' App Uses AI to Create Custom Art Based on Prompts
Enchanted Potion Dolls
Magic Mixies Pixlings are Dolls That Kids Create Inside a Potion Bottle
DIY Nail Art Printers
Preemadonna's DIY Nailbot Kit Gets Girls Interested in STEM
Child-Friendly AI Doodles
Dodoboo Uses AI to Turn a Child's Doodles into Art
Africa-Themed STEM Crafts
Teni & Tayo Offers a Subscription Box of STEM Crafts Inspired by Africa
Mist-Making Genie Toys
Moose Toys' Magic Mixies Magic Lamp Inspires Magical Wish-Making
Comic Book Coloring Kits
The Made by Me Manga Artist Set Offers Step-by-Step Instructions
Learning-Focused Robotics Toys
The Robots In Motion Building Set Ignites STEM Interest in Youth
Child-Friendly AI Tutors
GPTKids is a Homework Helper That Supports Kids and Their Parents
Contemporary Art Puzzle Sets
LEGO's Modern Art Building Set is a Great Buildable Decor
Daily Affirmation-Focused Cards
Joyful Hearts Co. Delivers Self-Confidence with Affirmation Cards
Kid's Felt Building Kits
KNOP KNOP Launches Creative Felt Building Kits for Children's STEM Play
Play Kidcore Games
Cutedressup Let's You Make Kidcore Dressup Games of Your Dreams
Youth-Focused Coding Dolls
E-liza Dolls Aims to Create a New Generation of Women in STEM