Getting Kids Creative on Show Me St. Louis

It’s time to get creative! Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht stopped by Show Me St. Louis to show off some great new toys to get kids imaginations running wild. 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 spring and summer, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Spring and Summer Gift Guide.

Learning is sweet when pretending to run your own ice cream cart!
The Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart lets kids create a variety of imaginative and tasty-looking ice cream combinations using four flavors of ice cream, three toppings and three syrup flavors.
Use the magic scooper to scoop up the ice cream and toppings to build customer orders and it will recognize the colors and flavors.
Then press the pump to add pretend syrup while counting to ten.
Build memory and sequencing skills by choosing from six cute animal order cards and following the instructions. Ring the bell to let them know their order’s up!
Playful phrases introduce colors, numbers, flavors and more while you explore the cart’s features and six activity cards.
When kids are ready to move to a new location, place the accessories in the correct places or put them in the two storage drawers and push the cart around to hear upbeat songs and music.
Age: 2+
MSRP: $39.99
Available: Amazon, Walmart

JIXELZ (FAT BRAIN TOYS)

Classic puzzle fun becomes an adventure in pixelated creativity!
Each set comes with either 700 or 1,500 vibrant, precision-cut micro jigsaw pieces. Follow the instructions to transform the tiny pixel puzzle pieces into vibrant designs.
Build a cat and a dog with the Playful Pets set!
Or why not get creative and invent your own designs or why not collect them all, combine them all, and build something HUGE?
All Jixels hold together strong – no ironing needed! – and they fit together easily without any frustration.
Let your big ideas shine bright with Jixels!
Age: 6+
MSRP: $9.95 – $16.96
Available: fatbraintoys.com, Amazon

Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Salon Set and Vet Set includes adorable, colorable, and washable pet figures that kids can customize with color, wash in the tub, and color again.
Kids can color customize with the six included Scribble Scrubbie Ultra Clean Washable Markers.
When they are ready for a color change, they can brush their new pets clean in the tub, dry them off, and start over.
Two pets are included in each set, but there are additional expansion packs sold separately for a total of 12 adorable animals that kids can collect and customize again and again.
Age: 3+
MSRP: $14.99
Available: Target, crayola.com

SMART SKETCHER PROJECTOR (FLYCATCHER)

smART sketcher Projector is the next great product for promoting artistic ability, fine motor development, and STEAM education skills using 21st century technology.
Developed by the innovative Flycatcher Inc. team, smART sketcher Projector allows children and adults to transform photos taken from their smart devices into a sketch.
By using the free smART sketcher app, photos are filtered and transferred via Bluetooth to the projector. Instantly users will see their desired image projected onto paper.
Users are able to draw anything the eye can see with just a touch of a button.
The smART sketcher Projector also comes with pre-loaded micro SD cards that are filled with a variety of activities including step-by-step drawings, learn-to-write letters and numbers, early spelling skills, and more.
Additional SD cards can be purchased separately to keep the creative learning going.
Age: 5+
MSRP: $42.99
Available: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Michaels, Target

JUST MY STYLE SPARKLING AROMA JEWELRY (HORIZON GROUP)

Create custom jewelry pieces infused with essential oils with the Just My Style Sparkling Aroma Jewelry.
Choose from three aromatic essential oils to add to fun shaped pendants for a soothing scent you can wear.
Decorate your jewelry with beads, glitter, and more.
Create up to 5 custom pieces to wear or share with friends.
The kit Includes 5 lockets, 12 felt circles, 1 bag of confetti, 1 skein of wax cording, 1 bag of glitter, 2 skeins of satin cording, 1 skein of elastic cording, 1 skein of knotting cord, 50 metallic beads, 525 accent beads, 2 tassels, 3 star charms, 3 essential oil droppers, and instructions.
Age: 6+
MSRP: $9.97
Available: Walmart

The CLASSIC Spirograph set, just like you remember!
This commemorative edition is a reproduction of the original 1970s set, featuring throwback packaging and retro graphics.
This classic set features all the iconic wheels and rings of the original that parents, grandparents, and collectors alike will remember fondly.
Age: 8+
MSRP: $19.99
Available: Specialty retailers, Amazon

Get ready, the carnival is here!
Join Disney•Pixar’s Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Bo Peep as they check out the games and thrilling rides at the carnival with Ducky and Bunny.
Help Buzz practice his sharp shooting with the laser cannon and then join Woody and Bo Peep on the Terrorantulus ride.
Don’t forget a trip in the bumper cars!
Take a break for some ice cream, then do it all again.
Age: 4+
MSRP: $49.99
Available: Amazon, Walmart, Target

RAINBOW GUMMY CANDY LAB (THAMES & KOSMOS)

Make your own delicious, fun gummy shapes using a gelatin mixture.
Pour it into the included mold and concoct a spectrum of flavors and colors to personalize your unicorn, cloud, and rainbow-shaped gummy creations.
Kids can even add citric acid to make sour gummies.
They will learn about the scientific properties of natural polymers as you cook up these delicious treats.
This kit includes all the food ingredients needed for a rainbow-gummy good time.
Age: 6+
MSRP: $19.95
Available: Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble

WORLD OF NANABLES (JAZWARES)

The launch assortments features locations like Sweetness Town and Rainbow Way.
Girls can collect all the houses in a themed land, or mix & match themes to create a world that is uniquely their own.
With the free Nanables app, available on Google Play and Apple App Store this summer, girls scan their collections bringing the World of Nanables to life using augmented reality.
The app unlocks exclusive content, mini games, a collector’s guide and more; all things needed to get to know the locals, called Nanos!
Age: 6+
MSRP: $5.99
Available: Target

About the author