The Top-Rated Toys for Creativity in California Right Now

In a world packed with screen time and fast entertainment, giving kids (and let’s be honest, grown-ups too) a chance to slow down and make something with their hands is more important than ever. At ToysHut, we keep a close eye on what’s not just popular, but meaningful. That means stocking toys that spark imagination, encourage storytelling, and invite open-ended play.

If you're looking for top-tier creative toys that Californians are loving right now, whether you're in the Bay Area or shopping from home, this list is your starting point.

1. Pop Mart’s Labubu Artist Series

Pop Mart’s Labubu isn’t just a collectible. It’s a canvas. Each version in the Artist Series is designed by a different artist, adding unique layers of style and imagination. Kids can create backstories, build tiny worlds, or just enjoy the bold design. These figurines aren’t just sitting on shelves. They’re inspiring kids to draw, build, and dream up whole storylines around them.

Why it’s creative: Labubu characters challenge kids to imagine and reinterpret personality and mood through color, costume, and setting.

2. Sonny Angels: Mini Angels with a Twist

They may be small, but Sonny Angels unlock big imagination. Each blind-box figure comes dressed in an unexpected costume like fruits, animals, or vegetables. That element of surprise leads to a different kind of creative play. Kids often use these for roleplay, miniature scenes, or even crafting projects.

Why it’s creative: Their unexpected designs push kids to build original scenes and stories without a script.

3. Plus-Plus Building Tubes

If LEGO and pixel art had a baby, it’d look like Plus-Plus. These simple interlocking pieces come in compact tubes and offer unlimited building potential. Kids can make 3D sculptures, flat mosaics, or anything in between. It’s mess-free, screen-free fun that quietly builds spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Why it’s creative: Open-ended construction means no instructions, no rules, just imagination leading the way.

4. NeeDoh Dohzee & Sensory Toys

While these are marketed as fidget toys, they’re actually fantastic for creative sensory play. NeeDoh Dohzees are squishy, colorful blobs that feel amazing to squeeze, shape, and mold. For younger kids or neurodiverse learners, they become tools for imaginative scenarios like blobby monsters or magical creatures.

Why it’s creative: They open the door to tactile-based storytelling and character building, especially for kids who think through touch.

5. Paint-by-Sticker Kits

These aren’t your average sticker books. Paint-by-Sticker kits offer a paint-by-numbers vibe without the mess. Kids place geometric stickers into templates to slowly build detailed animals, landscapes, or characters. There’s focus, satisfaction, and a finished piece they can be proud of.

Why it’s creative: Combines precision and artistic flair in a format that works for kids who might be overwhelmed by freehand drawing.

6. Mini Brands by ZURU

At first glance, these mini replicas of real-world products seem like just another collectible. But the creative potential is huge. Kids use them to build mini stores, invent business games, or craft dioramas. Add in some cardboard, tape, and a little time, and you’ve got an entire creative universe.

Why it’s creative: Turns familiar branding into a launchpad for original roleplay and design.

7. DIY Plush Kits

Our stores in Fairfield, Tracy, and Stockton are seeing more demand for DIY plush kits. These are stuffed animals kids can assemble and decorate themselves. It’s crafting meets toy-making, and the emotional payoff of hugging a toy you made yourself is pretty unbeatable.

Why it’s creative: Combines crafting, sewing, and personalization into a project with heart.

Creativity is the Gift That Keeps Giving

At ToysHut, we’re more than just shelves full of toys. We’re curators of joy, exploration, and expression. Whether your child is a future artist, storyteller, builder, or just someone who loves to play in their own way, our top-rated creative toys are designed to meet them where they are and help them grow from there.

You’ll find these picks and more online at ToysHut.com, or in person at any of our California locations:

ToysHut Fairfield Solano Town Center 1350 Travis Blvd, Suite Fairfield, CA 94533

ToysHut Tracy West Valley Mall 3200 Naglee Rd, Suite Tracy, CA 95304

ToysHut Stockton Sherwood Mall 5308 Pacific Ave, Suite Stockton, CA 95207

Drop in, let the kids explore, and leave with something that fuels more than just fun. It fuels imagination.