ToyTrend 2026 Creative Mindfulness

By Stefanie Jäger / Fynn Schellhammer

In a world full of digital distractions, there is a growing longing for the real, the tangible, and the handmade. The ToyTrend Creative Mindfulness strikes exactly this chord and makes creative design a conscious counterpoint to hectic everyday life. The joy of creating connects generations and provides precious moments of deceleration.

Creative work awakens potential
Creativity is within all of us, just waiting to be discovered. When we create something ourselves, we not only develop artistic skills, but also problem-solving abilities, perseverance, and self-confidence. This is where the ToyTrend Creative Mindfulness comes in, promoting this hidden potential and allowing us to rediscover the joy of our own creativity. The range of creative activities extends from crafting and painting to crocheting and weaving to carving and pottery. The variety of products opens up countless opportunities to discover one's own imagination and create individual works of art. At the same time, moments of calm and concentration arise – a valuable balance to the often hectic school and work routine.

 

The Dot Painting creative set from Janod introduces children to the trendy technique of dot painting. Pointillism refers to a style of painting that flourished in post-impressionism between 1889 and 1910. The set guides children in creating pictures or patterns on a pebble with colorful 3D dots of paint in various sizes. It includes all the necessary materials such as paint, a bamboo tool, and step-by-step instructions. The Clever Box even transforms the packaging into a frame for your own artwork. This encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and patience – and each picture becomes a colorful, unique piece that makes a wonderful gift or decorative display.

With OKTO Sensory Art, children aged 5 and up and all creative craft enthusiasts can discover a whole new world of design: it is an innovative combination of modeling clay, paint by numbers, and versatile DIY sets. It opens up countless possibilities for creating individual works of art with fascinating textures. Whether colorful animals, imaginative landscapes, or abstract designs – the high-quality, safe materials are easy to shape and dry cleanly in the air. OKTO Sensory Art not only promotes creativity and fine motor skills, but also provides relaxing downtime. Each set becomes a little adventure that inspires the imagination and leaves you wanting more. 

With the Pottery Workshop from Maped Creative, children can playfully discover the fascinating world of pottery. The complete set contains everything little artists need to create real clay works of art and decorate them individually. The motorized potter's wheel and practical pedal control make it easy to adjust the spinning speed – ideal for beginners and advanced users alike. The included tools allow children to work creative patterns and textures into the clay, while the spray bottle makes modeling easier by allowing them to moisten the clay as needed. 

Sometimes all it takes is a few colorful building blocks to turn an idea into an exciting adventure. Playmais invites children aged 3 and up to give free rein to their creativity: whether wild animals, bright flowers, or entire fantasy worlds – with a little water, the corn building blocks can be easily connected and redesigned again and again. This quickly results in small works of art that can be proudly displayed. Playmais supports the development of creativity and imagination and makes crafting a special experience every time. 

With the AllesKönnerKiste "Filz-Bild" from Kosmos, children aged 8 and up can playfully immerse themselves in the colorful world of felting. Based on the "paint by numbers" principle, eight colorful wool colors and lovingly designed templates can be used to create lively decorative pictures in no time at all – no prior knowledge required. The box contains everything creative minds need to get started. The finished artwork can be displayed directly in the enclosed frame to brighten up their own room. This turns felting into a creative DIY project that promotes concentration, fine motor skills, and imagination. Available from March 2026.

Holding your own work in your hands makes you proud and gives you real joy. Creative mindfulness shows that creativity is more than just crafting—it is the key to imagination, expression, and personal development. This trend inspires people of all ages to shape their world with their own ideas. 

About the authors

Stefanie Jäger works as Senior Marketing & Content Manager at Spielwarenmesse eG. Together with the international TrendCommittee, she searches for the hottest trends in the toy industry. She prepares these with the project management team in a special area. For the Toy Business Forum, she has been at the cutting edge of the toy industry, retail, and marketing for over 15 years.

Fynn Schellhammer works in the marketing department of Spielwarenmesse eG while studying Multimedia and communication at University of Applied Sciences Ansbach. He has immersed himself in ToyTrends 2026 AI loves to Play and Creative Mindfulness and is preparing them for the Spielwarenmesse in the media.