In today’s installment of Toy Insider and Family Circle magazine’s “25 Days of Toys,” Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht and Family Circle Social Media Editor Sugey Palomares get their creative juices flowing with three great arts-ands-crafts-based toys. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the holiday season, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.


DO DATS (ALEX BRANDS)

  • ALEX DIY Do Dats will have your friends asking, how did you DO Dat?
  • Kids can make an adorable and unique dangling character to hang with the included 25 beads and accessories!
  • Mix and match the beaded parts with other Do Dats characters.
  • Each Do Dat hangs from anywhere with the included lobster clasp and has special beads that allow her to hold hands with her friends.
  • She also comes with a mystery bead as a creative surprise, a two-piece body frame, and instructions.
  • Do Dats are available in six different characters, each with an original personality and look: Sprinkles, Burgadette, Punky, Gloria, Celeste, and Unie.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $9.99
  • Available: Party City, Toy City, LearningExpress.com

CRAYOLA CRAYON MELTER (CRAYOLA)

  • This new art tool enables kids and DIYers to melt crayons and use wax to create in different ways.
  • In less than a minute, kids can create designs with liquefied crayons on a variety of unique surfaces like wood, glass, and canvas.
  • Kids just break up the crayons, place them in the melter, and draw to create new masterpieces.
  • The sleek, compact design is safe, easy to use and has a low-heat tip for worry-free creativity.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $24.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Crayola.com

YOU*NIVERSE SPARKLING SQUISHY SOAP (HORIZON GROUP USA)

  • Experience the science behind soap making as you create 5 soaps that are squishy to the touch using the YOU*Niverse Sparkling Squish Soaps kit!
  • Combine the included ingredients to create a moldable dough that can be shaped into a pizza, a smiley face, a donut and more.
  • Explore your creativity as you mix colorful mica powders to create tie-dye and color blocking effects.
  • Add finishing touches of body glitter for added shimmer and shine.
  • Watch the colorful suds erupt as you wet and squeeze your unique soap formation.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $14.99
  • Available: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

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