Skillmatics is one of those brands that kept showing up in my toy guides, and might rival Educational Insights and Learning Resources for fun educational toys.
Most of them are craft kits, a couple are games, and one is a scissor practice book. All of them are small enough to gift, easy to stash, and built around one specific skill.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Every click helps keep this site running. Thank you🪀
Here they all are in one place, sorted by what they actually work on and tagged with ages. If you’re using our toy rotation, these fit neatly into a few of the 11 play categories: close-ended, fine motor, art, and even gross motor.
Want the Toy Rotation Guide?
A free 2-page system for cutting the mess & maximizing playtime sent straight to your inbox.
Why We Like Skillmatics
- My kids actually come back to them. Our Search and Find game has been played with for years, which is more than I can say for most games.
- Each one targets a skill. Cutting, poking, peeling, following a picture. As a former teacher, I like that I can hand over a kit and know exactly what it’s practicing.
- Lots of them are low mess. Stickers, felt, foil, and scratch art don’t need paint or a drop cloth.
The downsides: most of the craft kits are one-and-done. Once the pictures are finished, the kit is finished (the felt boards are the exception). A couple of kits need a grown-up nearby: the Iron-Its need an iron, and the Shake-Its involve pouring glitter. And the sticker kits can be tricky for small fingers.
The Best Skillmatics Toys by Age
Their products start at 3+, so for younger kids, look at our toys for 2 year olds instead.
| Age | What to look for | More toys for this age |
|---|---|---|
| 3+ | Search and Find, Snip Snip scissor book, Dot It stickers, scratch art | Toys for 3 year olds |
| 4+ | Found It scavenger hunt, Foil Fun, Felt Fun, Poke-in-Art, Aqua Puffs, Shake-Its, rock painting | Toys for 4 year olds |
| 5+ | Everything above, with a lot less grown-up help needed | Toys for 5 year olds |
| 6+ | Iron-Its (with an adult on iron duty) | Toys for 6 year olds |
Skillmatics Games
Both Skillmatics games are close-ended: there’s a right answer, whether it’s the picture on the card or the thing on the list. That’s good practice for following directions and problem-solving (here’s my guide to close-ended toys if that’s a new idea).
One tip: both of my boys struggle with winning and losing, so if yours do too, play these as one team racing the clock instead of each other.
Search and Find: PAW Patrol (ages 3+)
My kids love Skillmatics Search and Find and have played with them for years. Kids hunt for the items on the cards in busy pictures, which is sneaky practice for visual scanning and focus (the same skills they’ll use for reading).
The PAW Patrol theme is a big draw for little ones, and if your kid is a PAW Patrol fan, our PAW Patrol toys page has more.
Skillmatics Search and Find – PAW Patrol
My kids love these and have played with them for years!
- PAW PATROL REUSABLE ACTIVITY MATS: Skillmatics Search & Find PAW Patrol Edition includes 12 repeatable search and find activities that inspire learning through play and build skills as children explore the exciting world of Chase, Marshall, Skye, Rubble, and more!
- INCLUDES: 6 double-sided wipe-clean activity mats, 2 dry-erase markers, 1 duster cloth, and 1 achievement certificate – everything your child needs for hours of screen-free learning fun.
- EASY TO USE: Each mat features a vibrant PAW Patrol scene on either side. Children use their observation skills to search for hidden objects and circle them using the included dry-erase markers.
Found It Indoor Scavenger Hunt (ages 4+)
This board game is all about getting kids up and moving. They hunt around the house for things on their cards, so it counts as a gross motor game too. It’s a great rainy day pick when running around outside isn’t happening.
Skillmatics Found It Indoor – Scavenger Hunt
This game is fun for getting the kids up and about, moving around the house.
- INDOOR SCAVENGER HUNT: Turn everyday spaces into a thrilling adventure with Skillmatics Found It!
- ENGAGING & EDUCATIONAL PLAY: Designed for kids ages 4 to 7, this interactive game builds observation, logical reasoning, and creative thinking skills, all while having fun!
- AWARD-WINNING FUN: Winner of the 2023 National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA)! This engaging card game gets kids off screens and into actionu2014perfect for home, school, and playdates.
`You Might Also Like
Skillmatics Scissor Skills
Scissor skills are important for kindergarten, and every kid gets there on their own timeline. My oldest picked up scissors at 2 with no explanation needed.
My youngest wasn’t interested until after he turned 4, because he couldn’t get the grasp coordinated. (Spring-loaded kids’ scissors finally won him over.) More ideas are in our fine motor toys guide.
Snip Snip Scissor Skills (ages 3+)
This book gives kids real things to cut and paste: scenes, toys, diagrams, and more, with lots of different themes… Because cutting straight lines on a blank worksheet gets old.
Skillmatics Snip Snip, Scissor Skills
These are so fun and there are lots of different themes. Cut and paste to make scenes, toys, diagrams, and more.
- Work fine motor skills in a mess-free way
- Full color pages to cut and paste
Skillmatics Snip Snip PAW Patrol, Scissor Skills, Felt Craft, Gift for Kids
🛍️ Shop My Amazon Storefront
Every toy, book, and must-have from the site organized and ready to shop in one place.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Skillmatics Craft Kits
This is most of what Skillmatics makes, and it’s where I’d start. I sorted them by mess level, the same way I sort everything in our art supplies guide.
Magical Scratch Art Book (ages 3+)
We love scratch art for traveling, restaurants, and quiet time. There’s no paint, no marker caps, just a stick and a page that reveals color with every stroke. That scratch is really satisfying sensory feedback, and it’s fine motor practice too. It’s one of the easiest art activities to toss in a bag as a travel toy.
Skillmatics Magical Scratch Art Book
We love scratch art for traveling, restaurants, and quiet-time activities. It practices fine motor skills with satisfying sensory feedback with each stroke!
- MAGICAL SCRATCH ART BOOK: Scratch over and make patterns to reveal colorful pictures, and create your own sticker art with animals found in the wild, on the farm, and underwater as you paste them on enchanting backdrops!
- INCLUDES: 10 scratch pictures, 30+ scratch stickers, 2 wooden styluses, and an instruction manual.
- TRAVEL-FRIENDLY: Includes a convenient holder for easy carrying, making it travel-ready. Perfect for long road trips, flights, and train rides, offering hours of fun on the go.
- CHILD-SAFE: Made with high-quality, odorless and non-toxic materials, this scratch art book is 100% safe for children to use.
Dot It Sticker Art (ages 3+)
Kids fill in a picture with dot stickers, a lot like dot art but completely mess-free. My trick for younger kids: I peel off the whole backing around the stickers first, so only the dots are left and they’re much easier to grab. It’s a great first step into close-ended crafts.
Skillmatics Dot It Sticker Art Disney Mickey & Friends
These kits come with lots of stickers to color in pictures like dot art. It's mess-free and easy to do. For my youngest, I remove the entire backing of the sticker sheet so its easier to grab each dot.
- PERFECT STICKERING ART ACTIVITY: With over 500 easy-to-peel stickers, your child will use their fine motor skills and imagination to complete 8 pictures featuring Mickey and Friends!
- INCLUDES: 30 easy-to-peel, colored sticker sheets (500+ stickers), 4 double-sided canvases, and an instruction manual.
- HOW TO USE: Let your child choose their favorite colored stickers, peel them off, and paste them onto the canvases to bring the picture to life!
- DEVELOP KEY SKILLS: While having fun, children develop essential skills like creative expression, pincer grasp, hand-eye coordination, and bilateral hand coordination. It's an engaging way for them to grow and learn!
Felt Fun Mosaic Art (ages 4+)
This is the one kit that isn’t one-and-done. The boards work like velcro: kids press felt tiles on to color the canvas, then pull them off and start over. They can follow the picture on the box (close-ended) or color it however they want (open-ended), so it covers two kinds of play in one kit.
Skilmatics Felt Fun Animals Moisaic Art
These boards are reusable like velcro. Use the felt tiles to color each canvas, then remove the tiles to start over. Follow the pictures on the box (close-ended) or color them however you want (open-ended).
- INCLUDES: 4 Picture Boards, 400 Reusable Felt Squares, and an Instruction Manual.
- MESS-FREE: No glue, cutting, or paint required. Simply press, peel, and reposition felt pieces on the reusable base for endless play.
- TRAVEL-FRIENDLY & SCREEN-FREE: Compact and portable, making it perfect for travel, restaurants, flights, car rides, or quiet playtime at home.
- ENCOURAGES INDEPENDENT PLAY: Clear color-matching cues allow kids to complete designs on their own, promoting problem-solving and self-confidence.
More no-mess kits: Foil Fun has kids peel off a sticker section, press the foil on top, and peel it back to reveal a shiny picture. Poke-in-Art uses pre-cut tissue paper and a stick to poke the tissue into the design, which is great pinch-and-push practice.
Skillmatics Foil Fun Dinosaurs
Peel back stickers for each segment. Then lay a foil sheet overtop. When you peel it back, the foil stays to color the picture.
- INCLUDES: 100+ Foam Stickers, 100 Colourful Foil Sheets, 10 Picture Canvases, Googly Eyes & Instruction Manual
- EASY TO USE: Select a picture canvas, apply sparkly foil sheets using the included stickers, and watch the picture come to life!
- AWARD-WINNING TOY: Skillmatics Foil Fun has been honored with The Toy Insider Award 2023 for Top Summer Toys. This recognition highlights the quality and enjoyment your child can expect from this product.
- DEVELOP KEY SKILLS: While having fun, children develop essential skills like creative expression, pincer grasp, hand-eye coordination, and bilateral hand coordination. It's an engaging way for them to grow and learn!
Skillmatics Poke-in-Art Magical Unicorns
This is a fun project for kids to practice fine motor skills with tissue paper. Use pre-cut pieces of paper and a stick to poke tissue into the design.
- POKE-IN ART ACTIVITY: This mess-free activity set sparks creativity as kids create their own magical unicorn dream decor by decorating unicorn-themed foam shapes with sparkly fabric squares and string them all together with the glitter string! It's the perfect way to brighten up a room with DIY room decor!
- INCLUDES: 700+ Fabric Squares, 5 Foam Pieces, 2 Poke-in Sticks, 1 Poke-in Pad, a Glitter String, and an Instruction Manual.
- EASY TO USE: Simply place a foam piece on the poke-in pad, then poke fabric squares into the slots. Repeat for each foam piece. Finally, attach the glitter string to each piece and hang them from the rainbow at varying lengths.
Skillmatics Foil Fun, PAW Patrol, Foil Art & Craft Activity, Gift for Kids
Contained Mess: Rock Painting Kit (ages 4+)
Our kids love painting rocks for rock gardens, outdoor kitchens, and collections for their rooms. This kit gives them the precision of markers with the color of paint, so kids get fine detail and bold color at the same time. Put a mat down, but it’s a lot tidier than a paint cup.
Skillmatics Rock Painting Kit
Our kids love painting rocks for rock gardens, outdoor kitchens, and even to make collections for their rooms. This kit gives the precision of markers with the pigment of paint.
- MESS-FREE ROCK PAINTING KIT: Explore the world of creativity with Skillmatics' Mess-free Rock Painting Kit. This engaging art and craft activity allows children to express themselves through vibrant designs inspired by their favorite animals, planets, and more. Start your own rock collection today!
- INCLUDES: 8 Rocks, 8 Paint Markers, Colorful Gems, Googly Eyes, and an Instruction Manual.
- HOW TO USE: Start by using the paint markers to color the rocks. Then, use the different colored markers to create vibrant designs and add details. Finally, decorate your rock with colorful gems and googly eyes!
- DEVELOP KEY SKILLS: While having fun, children develop essential skills like creative thinking, fine motor abilities, spatial reasoning, and focus. It's an engaging way for them to grow and learn!
Two more that need a table and a little supervision: Aqua Puffs uses drops of water to puff up each section into a 3D design, and Shake-Its has kids pour glitter into each section and seal it with pre-glued plastic (they turn into keychains for backpacks). Glitter is glitter, so I’d call that one contained mess at best.
Skillmatics Aqua Puffs Animals
Add drops of water to each section and watch each 3D design take shape.
- MAGICAL 3D ART THAT PUFFS TO LIFE!: Color in cute animals, then just add water and watch your creations magically puff up! Once dry, loop some string or a keychain through the hole and use them as room decor or awesome accessories!
- INCLUDES: 15 Aqua Puffs, 10 Markers, 2 Water Pens, 6 Keychains, String, and an Instruction Manual.
- EASY TO USE & APPLY: Just color your design, use the water pen to activate the puff effect, and watch the magic happen in minutes. No glue, no mess – just instant puff-tastic fun!
Skillmatics Shake-Its Flower & Butterflies Kit
Pour glitter into each section, then cover with pre-glued clear plastic. You can turn these glitter shakers into keychains for backpacks and keys.
- MAKE SHAKE-ITS THAT SPARKLE & SWIRL! Fill the flowers and butterflies with sparkly beads and colorful confetti, then seal and give 'em a shake! Add the keychains and watch the confetti swirl as you hang your one-of-a-kind creations on bags, backpacks, or around your room.
- INCLUDES: 8 Foam Shake-its, 8 Transparent Sheets, 8 Confetti Packs, 8 Keychains, and an Instruction Manual.
- EASY TO USE: Pick a Shake-it, fill the sections with confetti, peel and stick the transparent sheet, then press to seal. Insert a keychain into the hole and your masterpiece is ready to show off!
Adult Helper Needed: Iron-Its (ages 6+)
Kids design the transfer and an adult irons it on. Because of the iron, and because the transfers are permanent, this one needs close supervision and a grown-up doing the hot part. It’s a fun way for older kids to make something they can actually wear.
Skillmatics Iron-Its Transfer Kit
Because you need to iron, and these transfers are permanent, close supervision and adult assistance is required.
If you like these, the Educational Insights pom pom and gem kits are very similar mess-free crafts, and our Crayola roundup covers the markers, crayons, and paint that fill in around them. Small kits like these also make great stocking stuffers.
Everything I Recommend, In One Spot
I keep every toy from my site organized in one shoppable Amazon list.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
You Might Also Like
Ready to Take Your Toy Rotation to the Next Level?
A simple two-page system for cutting the mess and making playtime more fun & last longer!
Get StartedFAQ
At our house, Search and Find has lasted the longest (years of play). Found It Indoor is the one that gets kids up and moving around the house.
Most Skillmatics products are labeled 3+ or 4+. Search and Find, Snip Snip, Dot It, and scratch art work for 3 year olds. The Iron-Its kit is 6+ and needs an adult to do the ironing.
Many are. Dot It stickers, Felt Fun, Foil Fun, Poke-in-Art, and scratch art are basically mess-free. The rock painting kit, Aqua Puffs, and the glitter Shake-Its need a table and a mat.
Most are one-and-done once the pictures are finished. The Felt Fun boards are the exception, because the felt tiles pull off so kids can start over.
The scratch art book is one of our favorites for quiet time, restaurants, and travel. The games work better with a grown-up or sibling around, since they need more than one player.
1 thought on “Best Skillmatics Games and Craft Kits for Kids”