Toy Gift Guide: Best Activity and Arts & Crafts Toys

This week, I'm sharing some of my favorite activity and arts & crafts toys. Most of these are geared toward girls (sorry!), but there are a few that will get boys and girls using their imaginations to create. And some of them even promote a little STEM!

1. Craft-tastic Artist's Box - Ann Williams Group, 6+
I love this craft kit because it's really about kids creating whatever they want. There are challenge cards to inspire the creating and lots of tools.


2. Electric Motors Catalyst - Tinkering Labs, 8+
Get hands-on with electric motors and build some really cool and working machines with this STEM kit. There are challenge cards to get kids started, but kids can also experiment with building whatever they want.


These building sets are a great way to help girls feel like real architects as they build a hotel or townhouse in a variety of configurations. Each set, sold separately, offers building challenges. Plus, there are dolls to inspire some creative storytelling once the sets are built.


4. JoJo Siwa Cool Maker JoJo Glitter Nails - Spin Master, 8+
You'd kind of have to be a fun of JoJo Siwa or at least just a fan of doing your nails to like this kit. I was really impressed with how the glitter nails turned out, and it was easy to do!


5. Fablossom Paper Starter Kit - Anubias Enterprises, 6+
I'm a scrapbooker, so something like this is pretty much right up my alley. This kit lets you easily create and embellish paper flowers for adding to cards, gift boxes, tabletop decor, or wherever.


6. Sequin Pets Happy the Hedgehog - Creativity for Kids, 5+
I struggled with where to put this toy, but because this offers creative play and tactile play, I put it under activity. It's a super cute stuffed animal with a weighted body and flip sequins on its back. I LOVE FLIP SEQUINS. There are also reusable stick-on accessories to decorate your hedgehog.


7. STMT Signature Scent - Horizon Group USA, 8+
The look of these STMT kits (pronounced "statement") are gorgeous and will really make tween and teens feel like they're getting luxe products. With this kit, you can make your own roll-on perfume. Keep them for yourself or give them to a friend.


8. DIY Pinata Party - ALEX, 6+
Decorate your next party or just your room with this super cute kit. You get the pinata shapes and then just stick everything on them! You can even fill them with small candy, but why would you want to break open these adorable creations?


9. BOSEbuild Headphones - BOSE, 8+
This kit is so cool for music-loving kids. It takes them through the steps of building their own pair of BOSE headphones, but through an interactive app, kids also learn a little bit about the science of sound. This is a pricey one, but well worth it!


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