Encourage your children to unplug and let their imaginations soar with these creative toys and books. Tried and loved by our family, these picks span art, building, and reading — perfect for sparking curiosity and hands-on play.
The Best Creative Kids Toys
Like most children, our girls enjoy video games and the occasional iPad session. I grew up fascinated by computers — I built my first website at 12 — so I appreciate technology. Still, we try to balance screen time with plenty of tactile, imaginative play.
To encourage unplugged creativity, we keep a variety of STEM toys, art supplies, and books on hand. Seeing my children turn an idea into something real is one of my favorite things as a parent.
Below are our tried-and-true favorites for building, crafting, and reading. These make thoughtful gifts that promote problem-solving, sensory play, and imaginative storytelling.
Our Favorite Building Toys
When I was a kid we were always constructing something — forts, LEGO cities, anything that let our imaginations run. My daughters love building, too, and these toys are winners for long stretches of focused, cooperative play.
Magformers
Magformers are magnetic shapes that snap together into all kinds of structures. Both of our girls (ages 10 and 4) love them because the pieces click into place and hold securely.
Why I recommend Magformers:
- They occupy kids for hours.
- They’re ideal for siblings of different ages to play together.
- They foster practical engineering skills and critical thinking.
There are many Magformers sets — basic kits, themed packs, sets with wheels and gears, and LED squares that charge and light up. We own the 100-piece Inspire set for a good variety of pieces and the Magnets in Motion 37-piece set for spinning gears; both have been used constantly.
Brain Blox Building Planks
Brain Blox are simple, smooth wooden planks that invite open-ended building. Because each piece is identical, kids must rely on imagination and balance to create structures — a timeless approach to STEM play.
We have the 200-piece set, which offers plenty of pieces for houses, towers, vehicles, and imaginative scenes. The natural, non-toxic wood is durable and easy to store because the pieces stack neatly.
Our Favorite Art Supplies
My daughters also love making art — which warms my former art-major heart. These supplies are dependable, low-mess, and great for projects, cards, and creative play.
Kwik Stix — by The Pencil Grip, Inc.
Kwik Stix are solid tempera paints in a stick form that combine drawing with painting. The colors are bold, glide smoothly, and dry in about 90 seconds, making them nearly mess-free and perfect for joint art time between older and younger kids.
We keep several sets on hand, including original 24-packs, Thin Stix, neon and metallic packs. Kwik Stix are our go-to for making greeting cards and quick colorful projects because they’re fast, bright, and easy to use.
Projects we made with Kwik Stix include:
- Pumpkin pop-up card
- Easter egg pop-up card
- Initial tape resist art
Easy Playhouse
This cardboard playhouse comes flat, assembles in minutes, and becomes a canvas for hours of creative decorating. Kids enjoy personalizing the space with markers, paints, and stickers.
Stick It Magnetic Accessory Gallery — by Just Solutions
This magnetic board holds jewelry, hair accessories, pens, and other small metal items. Kids can rearrange displays daily, and it’s also a useful organizer for a desk or kitchen catch-all.
Design and Doodle Coloring Book — Parragon Books
This coloring collection features funky patterns and hundreds of unique pages. Coloring helps kids relax while inspiring creativity and focus.
Prismacolor Premiere Colored Pencils
Prismacolor pencils are rich, blendable, and ideal for detailed coloring. A 72-count set makes an excellent starter kit for budding artists seeking vibrant, smooth color.
STEM Books that Encourage Creativity
Books can inspire curiosity, introduce science in fun ways, and invite kids to solve problems. Here are a few titles our family enjoys for hands-on thinking and storytelling.
“The Slime Book” by Stacey Garska Rodriguez & Jennifer Tammy
Our collection of slime recipes grew from years of experimenting. This book gathers dozens of safe, sensory slime recipes that are great for exploring textures, simple chemistry, and hands-on creativity. Slime play is soothing, sensory-rich, and — most importantly — fun.
“Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret” by Trudi Trueit
The first book in a seven-volume series inspired by real-world exploration and science. This middle-grade novel blends mystery, codes, and STEM themes, and encourages readers to participate in problem-solving throughout the story. The tactile feel and vibrant illustrations make it especially engaging for curious kids.
The interactive elements invite readers to decode clues alongside the protagonist, which makes reading active and immersive.
“Sanity & Tallulah” by Molly Brooks
This graphic novel follows two inventive friends across the galaxy. It combines humor, science themes, and colorful art, and it’s a great title that encourages girls to explore STEM through storytelling and illustration.
We enjoy books that spark curiosity and invite participation — from writing and doodling to solving puzzles — and these selections do just that.
Note: Products marked with an asterisk were part of our annual toy drive and helped provide creative toys and books to local families in need. Giving back is important to our family.
More Unique Kids Gift Guides
- 20 Awesome Kids Gifts Under $20
- Luxurious Baby & Toddler Gifts for Every Budget
- The Cutest Paw Patrol Gifts for Boys and Girls