Toy Fair 2018: FamilyFun Magazine’s Top Toys for Creative Kids

By Liz Schnabolk
Wondering what toys your kids will be begging for next? More than a thousand toy companies showed off their latest and greatest ideas at the annual North American International Toy Fair. Among those products were those that will help expand their creativity. From open-ended kits to cool new tools and wow-worthy building sets, here are FamilyFun's top 10 toys for creative kids.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Smart Sketcher Projector

Courtesy of Smart Sketcher

Learning to draw gets a high-tech boost with this projector and accompanying app. Kids simply upload any photo they want, and then the app will turn it into a sketch that they can then trace onto paper, a tote bag, or whatever they like! Ages 5 and up. $59.99, available now at toysrus.com. 

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Faber-Castell Do Art 3D Sand Painting

Courtesy of Faber-Castell

Puffy paint meets sand art in this new open-ended activity kit! The special sand paint is fun to create with because it’s both raised and glittery when it dries. The kit also comes with guided boards for kids who need a little inspiration, and then extra blank ones for unique ideas. Ages 6 and up. $18, available in March. 

3 of 10

LittleBits Hall of Fame Kits

Courtesy of LittleBits

It’s STEAM (the combo of science, tech, engineering, arts and math) at its best: LittleBits’ toys use snap-together circuits to help kids create while learning about electronics and engineering. Celebrating this idea, their new line of Hall of Fame Kits are inspired by things their existing community of kid inventors have made. The kits include: a crawly creature, a bubble bot, a night light, and an arcade game. Ages 8 and up. $39.99, available in May.  

Advertisement

4 of 10

Crayola Crayon Melter

Courtesy of Crayola

What to do with all those old, broken crayons? Melt them up and make something new! Kids simply put the crayon pieces in the top of this pen, and then can use the melted wax to make raised designs on nearly any surface. Plus, a low-heat design makes it easy and safe. Ages 8 and up. $24.99, available in August. 

5 of 10

Educational Insights Sculptapalooza

Courtesy of Educational Insights

It’s time to bring art into your family game night. Older kids—and you, parents!—will get some big laughs as they try to sculpt what’s on their card before time runs out. (The game comes with Educational Insights’ popular Play Foam, which doesn’t dry out.) Ages 10 and up. $19.99, available now on Amazon.     

6 of 10

Klutz Grow Your Own Crystal Mini Worlds

Courtesy of Klutz

Every kid crafter loves a good diorama! Klutz ups the ante on this classic DIY by providing all the info kids need to grow crystal formations that will make magical homes for their unicorn, dragon, and seahorse figurines. Ages 8 and up. $22.99, available in August.  

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Elenco Snap Circuits Bric: Structures

Courtesy of Snap Circuits

Ordinary blocks just got even more fun. This 200-plus piece kit lets kids use Elenco’s snap-together circuits to wire their other toys so they can light up, move, make sounds, and more. Ages 8 and up. $44.95, available in summer 2018. 

8 of 10

Magformers Sky Track Adventure Set

Courtesy of Magformers

The classic magnetic building tiles are on the move. Kids can use this set to construct a space coaster, and then send the included sky-car soaring through it. The pieces are compatible with other Magformers, so little builders can reimagine and expand their coarse with toys they already have on hand. Ages 3 and up. $129.99, available in fall 2018. 

9 of 10

Ann Williams Magical Fairy Adventure

Courtsey of Ann Williams

Art kit meets storytelling telling experience with this selection of seven sweet crafts and activities. Little fairy enthusiasts will love creating a tiny home for their magical guest, and then watching it for special surprises. Ages 5 and up. $20, available later in 2018.  

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Alex DIY Paper Swirls Swirl Station

Courtesy of Paper Swirls

Quilling, the art technique where you use paper coils to create designs, is now more accessible for kids. The kit’s “swirl station” device quickly curls the paper so that kids can then focus on transforming the coils into cards, jewelry, and figurines. Ages 8 and up. $24.99, available in fall 2018. 

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Advertisement
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.parents.com