From educational ewriters that allow for marker-free coloring to paper island playsets that facilitate easy clean-up, there is clearly a growing demand for mess-free toys for children. Indeed, as parents lead increasingly busy lives, these new products help to encourage creativity, while simultaneously taking the hassle out of playtime cleanup.
One of the most interesting ways that toy manufacturers are making toys easier to clean-up is by leveraging digital interfaces. For example, Boogie Boards allow children to virtually doodle on a transparent, app-enabled surface. Another example is the JouJou Cube Touch, which uses digital stamps to encourage creative play with different tablet-based games.
Beyond digital technology, the shift towards mess-free toys for children has also seen a rise in alternative art supplies. This means that instead of crayons, markers and finger paints, children can now unleash their creativity with materials that are easy to clean. Some examples of synthetic art supplies include a fake snow-like material that won't stick to carpets or surfaces, press-on glitter made with a mess-free adhesive and bath-specific paints that easily wash away with water.
30 Creative Mess-Free Toys for Kids
From Kids' Educational eWriters to Modular Paper Playsets:
Katherine Pendrill — Mar 22, 2016 — Life-Stages
30
Kids Coding Toys
The 'Cubetto' Enables Children to Learn Programming in a Fun Way
29
Educational Activity Kits
'Raina to the Rescue' is a Hands-On Educational Toy for Kids
28
Kids' Educational eWriters
Boogie Boards Teach Kids to Write and Count with Digital Tracing
27
Teddy Puzzle Toys
Ozobear Challenges Kids with Twisting 3D-Printed Blocks
26
Creative Cooking Games
This Food Game Teaches Kids How to Prep Real World Meals
25
Robotics-Teaching Kits
The Gadgets & Gizmos Kit is Designed For Young Makers
24
Paper Animation Kits
These Rob Ives Sets Make Charmingly Animated Paper Playthings
23
Conversational Smart Toys
The Fisher-Price Smart Toy Panda Features Voice Recognition Technology
22
Caterpillar Coding Toys
The Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar by Fisher-Price Stimulates Young Minds
21
Faux Precipitation Toys
The Indoor Snow Kit Can be Used Over and Over Without Melting
20
Eco Christmas Toys
This Paper Dollhouse is Collapsible and Fun to Play With
19
Bathtub Artist Kits
ALEX Toy's Paint in the Tub Playset Makes for an Easy Clean Up
18
Customizable Sneaker Kits
Fayvel's Sneaker Stickers Let Kids Play a Designer Role
17
Playful Programming Games
Code Kingdom Teaches Coding for Children Through Play
16
Sticker-Shooting Toys
The Glow Show Sticker Launcher Lets Kids Get Creative with Bedroom Stickers
15
Robotic Educational Kits
The Sony Global Education 'KOOV' Kit Focuses on Teach Kids STEM
14
Paper Fairy Tale Theaters
Pukaca's Paper Toys Recreate Beloved Story Sets
13
Kiddie Coding Kits
Bitsbox Teaches Kids Coding Through Monthly Subscriptions
12
Children's Architecture Building Blocks
The Little Architect Set is a Techicolor Toy Drafting Kit
11
Meticulous Mess-Free Toys
The Aquabeads Frozen Playset Gets Kids Excited About Bead Art
10
Educational Cinematic Toys
GoldieBlox and the Movie Machine Teaches Kids Engineering & Animation
9
Upcycled Mint Tin Toys
Etsy User WishWithMe Turns Altoid Tins into Toys with Felt
8
Tablet Stamping Blocks
The JouJou Cube Touch is a Modern, Mobile Stamp Pad
7
Playful Kids' Computers
The Leaptop has Educational Basics Integrated for Interactive Learning
6
Anti-Mess Glitter Toys
The Melissa & Doug Mess-Free Glitter Foam Stickers Require Zero Cleanup
5
Crocheted Tea Kits
Miss Pigeon's 'High Tea Society' Kit Boasts Wool-Made Treats
4
Mosaic Artwork Toy Sets
Elmer's Sparkle Mosaic Masterpieces Allows Kits to Create without Liquids
3
Modular Paper Island Playsets
Mr. Printables/Crowded Teeth's DIY Paper Toy is an Easy Craft
2
Gaming Puzzle Toys
Learning Game System Puzzlets Gives Kids Coding and Game Development Skills
1
Interactive Tablet Robots
'TABO' is a Small Bot That Touch Points on an iPad for Gaming
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Paper-Like Drawing Tablets
The ugee Q6 Mobile Drawing Tablet Has Toy-Like Design
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
Color-In Photo Cameras
The 'Potto' Toy Camera Concept Encourages Kids to Color in Prints
Imaginative Soft Toys
Blabla's Little Monster Soft Toys Promote Listening, Curiosity and Dreams
Educational Climate Change Toys
The 'Habitat' Educational Toy Brick Sets Come in Two Options
Eco-Friendly Racing Toys
VTech's Turbo Edge Riders Inspires Racing and Recycling
Sustainable Kinetic Sand Toys
Kinetic Sand Project Planet Encourages Ecosystem Protection
Eco-Friendly Bath Essentials
Bebo Seeks to Reimagine the Packaging of Kid's Bath Products
GenAI Storybook Illustrators
Storybooks Turns Kids' Beloved Toys into Main Characters
Technical Education Car Toys
The Conceptual 'GoCar' Helps Kids Learn to Code Autonomous Vehicles
Eco-Friendly Beeswax Chess Sets
This FAUM Chess Set Disappears After Use Without a Trace Left
Interactive Early Education Toys
Tokidos PlayCubes Have a Screen-Free Design
Playful Modular Mops
Staff and Clorox Created a Colorful Wet Mop with Rubber Hat Topper
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Buildable Marble Mazes
The LEGO Magic Maze is a Challenging, Skill-Building Tabletop Game
Electronic Plush Toys
The Furblet Mini Toys Have Over 45 Fun Tunes, Sounds, and Furbish Phrases
Sustainable Sensorial Play Pads
The Stokke PlayPad by Marius Kindler Adapts to Growing Children
Dissolving Micellar Wipes
Fig. 1's Micellar Oil Cleansing Wipes Leave Zero Waste Behind
Introductory STEM Toy Sets
The Zig & Go from Djeco Combines Music and Forces in an Educational Toy
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Kids' Interactive Sensory Toys
Storypods Debuts Interactive and Multisensory Toys
Kid-Focused Musical Toothbrushes
Jack N' Jill Presents the Kids Electric Musical Toothbrush
Interactive Sensory Tables
The Fisher-Price Sensory Bright Light Station Offers Six Play Modes
Kid-Safe Makeup Kits
Jovy Makes EWG VERIFIED Makeup with Plant-Based Ingredients for Play
AI-Enhanced STEM Toys
The Kidx Classbox Fuses Montessori Methods with NFC Tech & AI
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
AI-Powered Plushies
Curio and Grimes are Collaborating on Artificial Intelligence Toys
Crowdfunded Circular Childrens Toys
Tiny Earth Toys is Launching a Kickstarter for 'Tiny Spaces'
Early Development Toys
Spin Master Collaborated on the Educational Ms. Rachel Collection
Space-Exploring STEAM Toys
LeapFrog's Magic Adventures™ Line Arrives for Kids Five and Up
Multipurpose Pet-Friendly Furniture
The Wowo Multipurpose Furniture is Colorful and Playful
Family-Friendly Interactive Museums
LEGO's Superpower Studios is Devoted to Hands-On Play
Playful Cookie-Coloring Kits
Corso's Kids Book Bundle is Educational and Entertaining
Kid-Focused Mindful Activity Books
Wild Chakra Boassts the Kids' Mindful Coloring & Activity Book
Multifunctional Magnetic Folding Tables
The 'FoldPlay' Folding Table Works Anywhere in the House
Digital Magnetic Toy Models
The Tenki Spliced Magnetic Attraction Toy is Educational
Minimal Desk Accessories Concepts
The DESKRISK Series Organizes the Working Space
Meticulous Electric-Free Toy Cars
Anders Hermansen Designs the Grip Car for Teenage Engineering
Multisensory Toy Boxes
The Janod Boxes Stimulate Sight, Touch, Hearing and More
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Concentrated Recycled Container Cleaners
WildClean Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products are Toxin-Free
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Painterly Air Purifiers
Airmega 250 ART x Hailyhills Purifiers Clean Homes in an Artful Way
Playful AI Tools
Morrama Releases Concept Collection of AI Tools for Children's Mental Health
Transforming Imaginative Furniture Designs
The Kiddie Couch Encourages a Sense of Play
Non-Toxic Kid-Friendly Make-Up Kits
Klee Naturals' Kids' Makeup Kit Boasts Natural Ingredients
Sustainability-Oriented Kids Toys
Learning Resources Unveils a New Sustainable Toy Capsule
Vibrant Freezable Lunch Boxes
Packit® Launches the Playtime Lunch Boxes Line
Realistic Messy Romantic Gifts
The Messy Paper Anniversary Gift Boxes Embraces Imperfections
Big Apple Toy Blocks
These Machi Town (New York) Blocks by kiko+ Encourage Creative Play
Experiment-Based Playsets
Moose Toys' Beast Lab Reinvigorates Action Figure Category
Limited Edition Diaper Prints
The Honest Company Blends Style and Practicality
Phygital Fairy Toys
The HOLOBRITE Pixie Lantern Mixes Physical and Digital Play
Play-Based Learning Collections
Staples Launches the Curated Kids Learn + Play Collection
Wood-Crafted Eco-Friendly Crayons
Playfool Designed the Forest Crayon Made From Real Wood
Food-Based Toy Block Alternatives
LEGO Replaces its Plastic Bricks with a Eco-Friendly Options
Modular Robotics Kits
ioCube Fuses the Simplicity of Building Blocks with Advanced Circuitry
Anthropomorphized Bath Products
Uoga Uoga Kids' Packaging Can Be Customized with Stickers
Tape Crafting Kits
Curious Universe's Nano Tape Magic Kits Create Fun Crafts for Kids
Kid-Friendly Tech Frames
myFirst Recently Unveiled Two New Digital Frames
Kids Foam Toothpastes
Jaysuing Makes Toothpastes with Soft Foaming Textures for Children
Buildable Paper Playsets
Playper's Curious Kingdom: Castle Playset Encourages Creativity
Fuzzy Musical Collectibles
Furblets are Interactive Toys That Introduce Furby to a New Generation
Book-Themed Collectibles
Booksy's Tiny Books & Figures Inspire a Love of Reading in Kids
Soothing Pet Grooming Products
Cleo&Hooman Launched a New Line, Spotlighting Zoomie Wipes
Playful Kid-Friendly Baking Kits
Make Bake Stands Out with Its Edible Stickers for Baking
Kid-Inspired Learning Programs
Staples Has Announced the Expansion of Staples Kids Learn + Play
Distraction-Free Keyboard-ConnectedTools
The BYOK Device is Designed to Foster Productivity
Sustainable Bath Solutions
Skip Hop Launches Moby x Oceanworks Baby Bath Bundle
Waterless Fish Toys
Zhu Zhu Aquarium Encourages Imaginate Play Without Spills or Mess
Gen Z-Focused Board Games
Mattel Launches Scrabble Together for Non-Competitive Gen Z Consumers
Dream-Centric Toy Guides
The LEGO Group Calls Attention to Its Dream Crafting Concept
Mix-and-Match Sensorial Bodycare
Jukebox's Clean-Label Soaps & Deodorants Share Nostalgic Scents
Colorful Kid's Toy Lines
Battat and Walmart Introduce a Line of Preschool and Pretend Play Toys
Cartoon-Adorned Parenting Bags
JuJuBe Partners with tokidoki on a Playful Bag Capsule
Cozy Meditative Digital Games
The Simpler Times Game Creates a Peaceful Ambiance for Players
Kid-Friendly Modular Sofas
The Figgy Play Couch is Launching in Durable, Family-Friendly Materials
Science-Backed Odor Removers
Fresh Wave Launched a Line for Pets, Fresh Wave Pet
Personalized AI Stories
Magic Bookshelf Places Your Child at the Center of Personalized Adventures
Smart Sensory Toys
Peel&Play Has Interlocking Pieces That Can Be Peeled & Rebuilt
Discarded Toys-Created Homes
Wallmakers Designs the Toy Storey Home with Repurposed Toys
Multifunctional Game Sets
The 'LEGO' Group is Merging Physical and Digital Play
Emotional Well-Being Dolls
Kid Kreations' Heartfuls Support Self-Belief and Resilience in Children
Reusable Mini Flossers
Mini SimplyFloss is a Reusable, Easily Grippable Floss for Kids
Toy-Specific Storage Systems
Step2 Debuts a Toy Storage Box for Developing Organizational Skills
Kid Entrepreneur Carts
Allboss is a Creative Approach to Entrepreneurship for Children
Cognitive Toy Subscriptions
Lovevery is a Subscription that Delivers Developmental Toys to Kids
Distraction-Free Digital Keyboards
The Micro Journal is a Convenient Whimsical Writing Device
Gamified Custom Kidswear
Supermix Studio Empowers Kids to Create Their Own Apparel & Accessories
Magnetic Building Blocks
'The NIA' Launched 'Magnecraft' EVA Foam Magnetic Blocks on Kickstarter
Gamified Children's Care Products
DEEEZ Developed Interactive Games for the BabyFirst Brand
Reprogrammable Robot Companions
Quarky Teaches Kids AI, Robotics and Programming Through Play
Kid-Friendly Digital Coloring
PalettePlay.art Has Customizable Coloring Book Templates
Insect Habitat Toys
Smart Lab Toys' Insect Inspector Lab Bug Playground Encourages STEM Learning
Multi-Mode Smart Cat Toys
The Cheerble Wicked Ball M3 Keeps Timid & Active Cats Entertained
Magnetic Building Playsets
Moose Toys' Tile Town Has Dynamic Action Tiles to Spark Imagination
ASMR-Inspired Soothing Toys
These Sensory Motion Bubblers Visually Create Calm
Youth-Focused Architectural Toys
The Freckled Frog's 'Happy Architect' Toy is for Curious Youth
Inclusive Children's Education Apps
Smart Tales is Certified by IBCCES as an Autism Resource
Baby-Focused Learning Toys
Matchstick Monkey's Playtime Toys Help Babies Develop Fine Motor Skills
Multipurpose Beauty Mousses
Fwee's Blurry Pudding Pot Boasts a Viral Fluffy Texture
Bilingual Baby Toys
Bebé Fuerte Explores Movement as Play
DIY Robotics Toys
The WindBots from Thames & Kosmos are Intricate Learning Toys
Dream-Inspired Building Toys
Lego Dreamzzz Encourages Kids to Build with Their Imagination
Mess-Free Eco Craft Kits
Brainstorm's Create N Colour Let Kids Magically Paint with Water
Origami-Inspired Playful Magnetic Blocks
Artur Tikhonenko Designs the Trido Building Blocks
Playtime-Encouraging Toy Capsules
Oreo Unveils the Art of Play Toys in Black and White
Daycare Organization Essentials
Colle à Moi Offers Daycare Organization Tools
Playful Music Production Systems
Blipblox's myTRACKS Groovebox is a Complete Music Studio
Mess-Free Sticker Stampers
Sticker WOW! Reimagines Play with Collectible, Refillable Stampers
Nature-Inspired Playdate Card Games
The Spilled Mushrooms Card Game is a Puzzle Game
Simplistic Dynamic Game Experiences
Joelle Tindall Created the Unique Touch Egg Game
Block Puzzle Modular Dollhouses
Gavin Portillo and Mario Ledo Create a Dollhouse Concept
Bean-Shaped Vibrant Chalks
Areaware Presents the Colorful New Bean Chalks for Imaginative Drawing
Sustainable Seasonal Chocolate Treats
PLAYin CHOC Christmas ToyChoc Boxes are Eco-Friendly
Easy-to-Assemble Colorful Furniture
Anne-Sophie Rosseel Presents the New Interlockables Capsule
Personalized Bed Time Reading
BlissFable Lets Kids Be the Protagonists of Their Own Stories
Stone-Like Supportive Toys
Play Maker Stapelstein Expands to the American Market
Kid-Friendly Portable Projectors
Little Tikes' Story Dream Machine Supports Early Literacy
Adult Board Game Campaigns
Hasbro and Ageless Innovation Rebrand Childhood Games for Adults
AI Kid's Coloring Tools
ColorCraft AI Offers Educational and Engaging Art for Kids
Customizable Pen Kits
Clementoni's Pen Creator Studio Helps Kids Create Their Own Pens
Life-Sized Toy Construction Sets
The Funphix' 'Standard' is an Educational Outdoor Playset
Multifunctional One-Piece Stationary
Bravestorming Creates the Mover Erase Uni-size
Child-Friendly AI Doodles
Dodoboo Uses AI to Turn a Child's Doodles into Art
Enchanted Potion Dolls
Magic Mixies Pixlings are Dolls That Kids Create Inside a Potion Bottle
Multi-Purpose Cleaning Gels
Auto Joe's Kneadable Gel Formula Cleans Hard-to-Reach Areas
Magnetic Building Tiles
Magna-Tiles Introduces its 'MicroMags' Product Line for Young Builders
Family-Focused Disinfectant Lines
SC Johnson Launches New FamilyGuard Brand Disinfectant Line
Whimsical Kids Furniture Collections
Oeuf Presents the New Moss Collection of Modern Looks
Mist-Making Genie Toys
Moose Toys' Magic Mixies Magic Lamp Inspires Magical Wish-Making
AI-Powered Drawing game
Doodle Play Tasks Players to Use Strategy and Imagination
Comic Book Coloring Kits
The Made by Me Manga Artist Set Offers Step-by-Step Instructions
Mind-Clearing Art Boards
The Buddha Board is Made Purposefully to Declutter and Refresh Minds
Eco-Friendly Kids Lunchware
Duck Duck Books and Duck Duck Eco Goods Unveil a Lunchware Collection
Eco-Friendly Health-Conscious Dog Toys
These Cosmos Snack Shack Toys Come in Two Styles
Colorblind-Accessible Games
Mattel Commits to Creating Inclusive Play and Game Options
Imaginative Pared-Back Art Supplies
Woset Designs a Range of Stationary and Furniture for Kids
Early Childhood Independence Straps
EaZyHold Grip Support Develops Engagement for Children