Make-and-play toys top holiday lists as families seek screen-free fun

With Super Saturday looming, The Toy Insider’s James Zahn says hands-on, screen-free toys are surging as families look for activities kids can make and play together over the holiday break.

“It gives kids an activity that they can do while they’re on break. It keeps them engaged, keeps the mind going and really lets them do things. In this case, none of this stuff involves screens,” Zahn said.

Among this season’s standout make-and-play options:

• Magna-Tiles Rail Racers 90-Piece Set: An open-ended building set featuring “rails” for ball racing that’s compatible with existing Magna-Tiles collections, encouraging imaginative builds and easy cleanup.
• Imagine Make DIY Window Art Princess Kit: Glitter glass paints turn princesses, mermaids, fairies, castles and rainbows into suncatchers—an activity older siblings can enjoy alongside younger kids.
• Play-Doh Barbie Designer Fashion Show: A cross-brand mashup where kids craft custom Barbie fashions using Play-Doh tools like ribbon and pattern makers, blending arts-and-crafts with pretend play.
• Thames & Kosmos My Robotic Pet: Coding Chameleon: A buildable, screen-free STEM kit that uses color-coded action cards and RGB LEDs to teach step-by-step coding logic—just add batteries.
• PlayMonster Electronic Spirograph: A battery-powered spin on the decades-old drawing classic, producing endlessly unique geometric art with included markers and disks. “I say there’s no way to mess up a Spirograph,” Zahn said.

For more recommendations, Zahn points families to The Toy Insider’s 20th annual Holiday Gift Guide at thetoyinsider.com, where toys are organized by age groups from infants through tweens and teens.

To watch the segment, click on the video above.