Creative Holiday Gifts for Kids: NAPPA’s Award-Winning Craft & Build Toys

by Elena Epstein
Director, National Parenting Product Awards

Looking for creative holiday gifts for kids this season? The 2025 NAPPA Awards have you covered with an inspiring lineup of toys that spark imagination, creativity, and hands-on fun. From mess-free craft kits and magnetic building sets to pretend-play projects that bring the holidays to life, these award-winning picks make gift-giving easy for parents and magical for kids. Each product blends play and learning, encouraging little creators to design, build, and explore—all while making memories that last long after the wrapping paper’s gone.

Each of these NAPPA Award-winning toys was chosen for the way they spark creativity, curiosity, and good old-fashioned fun. Whether your kids love building, crafting, or making a little holiday magic of their own, these picks are sure to inspire. Take a look at this year’s creative holiday gifts for kids, and maybe find a few new favorites to bring home to your family’s celebration.

Winter Frost Wooden Gingerbread House Play Set

A mess-free, rebuildable wooden gingerbread house for a festive pretend play celebration. “Icing” cords and wooden candy pieces cling to self-stick tabs to create unique designs. Interior and exterior art work allows kids to imagine countless winter wonderland adventures. Wooden pieces can be easily stored for on-the-go fun during the holidays. $32.99, ages 3+,melissaanddoug.com

Creative Holiday Gifts - Winterfrost Gingerbread house

MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Travel Set Deluxe 55-Piece Set

This 55-piece set takes on-the-go play to the next level. Featuring 75% smaller tiles for portability and a metal travel case that doubles as a baseplate—perfect for car rides, vacations, restaurant sand more.$39.99, ages 3+, amazon.com

Make Your Own Loom Animals

Create up to 12 adorable animal friends with this kid-friendly knitting kit. Just wrap the easy-to-use yarn around the loom and then use the hook tool to weave it together. Add some stuffing and tie the ends together. $24.99, ages 7+,amazon.com

Loveté Girls’ Activity Night Shoe Styling

Gather your besties for girls night. Decorate your sneakers with fun, personalized charms that show off your unique style—bold, cute or classic. $19.99, ages 8+, target.com

Sew Around the World: A Beginners Sewing & Doll Making Craft Kit

Stitch, stuff and decorate nine felt dolls inspired by countries like Kenya, Peru and Thailand. Each doll comes with a story and interesting facts about its country. $24.99, ages 5+, teniandtayo.com

MAGNA-TILES Pet Playhouse 50-Piece Set

Build a dream space for a puppy, cat, bunny and an adventurous dog. With fun features like a slide piece, mix-and-match animal caretaker, fences and microMAGS Cubes for tiny furniture. $69.99, ages 3+, magnatiles.com

Doodle Board

This writing tablet set features pressure-sensitive screens that create colorful lines with any touch. Eye-friendly and reusable up to 100,000 times, it’s perfect for drawing, spelling, and math practice. Ideal for travel, classrooms, or quiet time at home. $12.99, ages 3-6 years, amazon.com

Mad About Slime Deluxe Pizza Oven Slime Kit

Cook up some gooey fun. Includes a pizza oven mold, pizza-scented slime, and mix-ins like cheese, pepperoni and veggies for stretchy, squishy sensory fun. $27.99, ages 6+, rms-usa.com

Creative Holiday Gifts - Mad About Slime

Block Tech – Four Bloom Succulent Assortment

Bring nature indoors. This 277-piece set features four vibrant, buildable succulents. Each design offers a unique building experience, perfect for plant lovers and creative minds. $44.99, ages 6+, rms-usa.com

Dragon EggMazing Decorator

A magical twist on egg decorating from Hey Buddy Hey Pal. This fun, hands-on kit lets kids design their own vibrant dragon eggs. Just place one of the two included eggs into the spinning decorator and use the six colorful, non-toxic markers to reveal unique “cracks.” Open the egg to discover one of 12 surprise collectible dragons, each with movable limbs and tail. $29.99, ages 3+, heybuddyheypal.com

LEGO Stained Glass Art

Create dazzling art that turns an ordinary window into a stained glass masterpiece. With 5 double-tipped markers, this travel-friendly book has everything you need to color on the go. Hang your artwork up in any bright window and watch the sun shine through. $19.99, ages 8-12 years,

Jurassic World: Rebirth CAPTIVZ Dinorama

Inspired by the new movie – Air, Land and Sea. Each playset box opens into a playable scene that can stand alone or connect with others to create the ultimate dinosaur adventure. Every set includes exclusive figures, play pieces, and stickers for endless prehistoric fun. $7.97, ages 3+, walmart.com

MushMeez

Includes 6 scrumptious food-themed designs: Hot Dog, PB&J Sandwich, Hamburger, S’more, Cinnamon Bun and Donut. As good as these squishies look, don’t take a bite; this is a feast for the hands only – super squishy and sticky. $12.99, ages 8+, amazon.com