Shortlisted
Crayola Airbrush Kit
Turns ordinary markers into a spray airbrush. Big wow, surprisingly little mess.
Ages 6 to 10
20K+ bought last month on Amazon
Check the priceScreen-free, ages 5 to 10
The Quiet Hour
For the hour you need back. Things a kid can do alone, at a table, without you refereeing.
How we chose
Each one passed one test: can it hold a kid for 30 minutes without a screen or an adult? If it needed me to set it up every time, it didn't make it.
13 picks · 3 bought by us
Most bought right now
The ones other parents are buying most this month, on Amazon.
Shortlisted
Glow in the Dark Rock Painting Kit
Paint the rocks, then watch them glow at bedtime. Comes with everything, so no hunting for supplies.
Ages 6 to 12
10K+ bought last month on Amazon
Check the price
Shortlisted
Creativity for Kids Mermaid Mini Garden
A little terrarium they plant and look after themselves. The craft keeps going for weeks.
Ages 6 to 10
10K+ bought last month on Amazon
Check the price
Shortlisted
Skillmatics Aqua Puffs Animals
Paint by number with puffy paint that rises as it dries. No mess on the table.
Ages 5 to 9
7K+ bought last month on Amazon
Check the price
Shortlisted
Paint by Sticker Kids: Rainbows Everywhere
Numbered stickers that build a picture. Calm, tidy and oddly satisfying.
Ages 6 and up
A top seller on Amazon right now
Check the price
Our other picks
01Shortlisted
Magnetic Tiles, 136 pieces
The one toy that grows with them. Towers at 5, marble runs and cities at 9. There's no 'done' moment.
Ages 3 to 10
Check the price
02Shortlisted
GiiKER Super Slide
500 levels of a sliding puzzle in one handheld board. Silent, which is the whole point.
Ages 7 and up, solo
Check the price
03We bought this
Magnetic Tangram Book
Magnetic pieces in a book, so nothing ends up under the sofa.
Ages 4 to 8, car-friendly
Check the price
04Shortlisted
Mapology World Puzzle
A foam map puzzle with flags and capitals. Sneaky geography, zero complaints.
Ages 5 to 9
Check the price
05Shortlisted
Skillmatics Foil Fun
Press shiny foil onto sticky art. No glue, no paint, no cleanup.
Ages 4 to 7
Check the price
06We bought this
Window Art Suncatcher Kit
Paint it, let it dry, peel it and stick it on the window. The light does the rest.
Ages 5 to 8
Check the price
07We bought this
Funcils Watercolour Set
A hundred colours in a tin, with brushes. Feels like a real artist's kit, not a toy.
Ages 6 and up
Check the price
