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Playtime: 10 best arts and crafts for children

Keep little minds busy and creative this Easter holiday with one of these kits for making and doing

Kate Hilpern

Tuesday 01 April 2014 18:04

The Easter holidays are nearly upon us and while that can mean running around the garden in the spring sun searching for chocolate eggs, it can also mean rainy and/or cold days when you’re wondering how on earth you’re going to pass all the hours until the kids are back at school.

Fear not as we have the solution – arts and crafts. From the ever popular Badge It! to the comprehensive Magic Maize Bumper Pack from the Early Learning Centre, we have asked child testers of various ages to let us know which ones they rated most highly.

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10 best crafts for children

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10 best crafts for children

Badge It!

Back in 2003, when Badge It! was launched, more than half a million were sold in the first year. Now this quick, simple, no-mess badge-making kit is back. Take a photo or use one of the kit’s fun designs to create high-quality metal badges in seconds. £20, hobbycraft.co.uk

10 best crafts for children

Make a Bird Box Kit

If the weather’s not garden-friendly, let the kids create a wooden home for its feathered inhabitants. As well as the wooden pieces, the kit comes with a comic – they’ll enjoy reading it before the decorating stage – and varnish, all packed in a reinforced and reusable cardboard suitcase. £17, notonthehighstreet.com

10 best crafts for children

Elsie & Fleur Needle Felting Kit

This owl-making kit is sewing for kids at its most satisfying, with a really nice, tangible result. The kit contains everything you need to make the owl, including merino wool, sponge, felting needle and an easy-to-follow tutorial. £12, elsieandfleur.co.uk

10 best crafts for children

Tomy Jake and the Neverland Pirates Aquadoodle

These no mess mats are a genius invention for preschool creative play. You fill the special pen with water, doodle on the durable mat and watch as the drawings appear. Brand new for this year is this themed mat, based on the popular Disney show, Jake and the Neverland Pirates. £19.99, toysrus.co.uk

10 best crafts for children

Seedling Design Your Own Sock Toy

New Zealand-born company Seedling has taken the UK by storm with its craft kits that get kids making their own toys. This one, for kids aged five and over, involves designing and building a sock buddy, and includes socks, felt sheets, buttons, cotton thread, needles and stuffing. £33.99, johnlewis.com

10 best crafts for children

Paul Lamond Brain Noodles

These fluffy fibre noodles – like giant pipe cleaners – bend to make a menagerie of animals and bugs. This set comes with accessories (wiggly eyes, pompoms, craft foam etc) as well as instruction booklet. And there are no sharp ends in sight. £10.75, amazon.co.uk

10 best crafts for children

Hama Beads in a Tub

Hama beads have become a huge craze and this starter kit includes everything they’ll need to get going. Once they’ve put the little plastic beads on the pegboard in the colourful pattern they want, you pop the ironing sheet on it to make the design permanent. £10, jarrold.co.uk

10 best crafts for children

Early Learning Centre Magic Maize Bumper Pack

Get kids making everything from textured bunting to 3D googly-eyed animals with this kit. It comes with pre-cut card shapes and the star of the show: Magic Maize, foam-like pieces in different colours that stick together and to card with water. £15, elc.co.uk

10 best crafts for children

Poundland Make Your Own Felt Bunny

Poundland has some great arts and crafts this year, including some Easter ones. Our favourite is this Make Your Own Felt Bunny, which is a real bargain and will keep little ones busy. £1, poundland.co.uk

10 best crafts for children

Tap A Shape

This reusable set lets younger ones use the wooden hammer to tap the shapes into place on the cork board, held with a tack. They can create a scene or pattern, which can be dismantled to make another design. £8, elc.co.uk

Verdict:

Seedling has nailed it when it comes to encouraging creativity in kids and the Design Your Own Sock Toy is no exception. If you want something kinder on the purse strings, it’s got to be Poundland’s Make Your Own Felt Bunny, which is great value and seasonal too.

Buy now

1. Badge It!, £20

2. Make a Bird Box Kit, £17

3. Elsie & Fleur Needle Felting Kit – Owl, £12

4. Tomy Jake and the Neverland Pirates Aquadoodle, £19.99

5. Seedling Design Your Own Sock Toy, £33.99

6. Paul Lamond Brain Noodles, £10.75

7. Hama Beads in a Tub, £10

8. Early Learning Centre Magic Maize Bumper Pack, £15

9. Poundland Make Your Own Felt Bunny, £1

10. Tap A Shape, £8