best buys
The best craft buys for toddlers and preschoolers
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There's no denying that the days can really start to drag during the holidays and it can be tricky to find activities to keep your little ones occupied away from a screen.
Arts and craft sets are great for bonding, inspiring creativity and passing the time on days when you've got nothing else planned.
We've picked out some of our favourite sets for toddlers and pre-schoolers, with prices starting from just £4.95!
1. Paint Sticks
*Set comes with 24 paint pens in assorted colours
*Not suitable for children under the age of 3 years
*Designed with the ideal shape and size for small hands
These washable paint pens are ideal for parents who are concerned about mess.
They have all the benefits of poster paint but without any need for water or paintbrushes.
The paint dries quickly too and the pens are the ideal size for little hands to hold.
2. Mega Craft Jar
*Jar which contains hundreds of items for craft and art sessions
*Carry handle on jar makes it easy to transport and store bits and bobs
*Items inside include pom poms, craft sticks, glitter glue and more
This jar full of arts and crafts items will keep your little one entertained for hours! From glittery pom poms to sequins and colourful crepe paper, the potential for creativity is endless.
Just make sure to supervise them closely, as some of the parts are very small.
Suitable for three years +
3. Alex Toys My Pretty Mosaic
*Contains five different mosaic projects
*Everything you need is included
*Great for toddlers wanting to explore colour, texture and shape while expressing themselves
This fun and creative mosaic set contains five different projects for your little one to complete! It's a brilliant set for siblings as they can work together or separately on the various arts and crafts tasks.
Little ones can create pretty scenes and objects like a castle, a crown, a flower and more!
4. Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pads
*Ideal for travelling as it involves no glue or messy parts
*Set includes background scenes and vinyl stickers which can be peeled off and reused
*Great for inspiring creative storytelling and comes in nine different context books as well
This fun and creative sticker set is perfect for keeping kids entertained in the car or while travelling. It comes with five background boards, each of which depicts a different scene. The pack has over 245 reusable vinyl stickers, so little ones can create new scenes time and time again with all kinds of fun creatures and props. They'll love making up new stories, images and you'll love that there's no mess.
Suitable for three years +
5. Creation Station Wooden Spoon Kit
*Fun arts and crafts set for decorating spoons as people
*Great for creating characters for role-play fun
*Perfect for siblings or groups of friends as the set comes with 10 wooden flat spoons to be decorated
This set of 10 wooden spoons comes with pom poms, netting, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, felt and more. They're great for re-creating family members with, or for making up new characters which children can role-play with later.
It's the perfect set for a rainy weekend, or to keep kids occupied during a playdate.
Suitable for three years +
6. Mini Birdhouse (four-pack), £9.95
*Set of four mini wooden bird houses
*Measure 12cm x 9.5cm
*Decorate however you like
Have a tot who loves animals and birds? Create your own bird house with this set – no glue is required! Just decorate with paint, glitter, pom poms or crayons (not included)
The set comes with four mini ready-built birdhouses made from wood and can be hung or free-standing.
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